The Westminster men's basketball team attempted to comeback late in Wednesday's game versus MacMurray, but were unable to pull out a win. The 79-71 loss to the #1 team in the conference puts the Blue Jays at 3-11 in conference and 4-16 overall.
MacMurray grabbed a six point lead five minutes into the game. Two free throws from freshman Tanner Cochran brought the game within four, but an 11-2 run by MacMurray gave them a 13 point lead. They brought the game to a 16 point deficit with 8:20 left in the first.
The Blue Jays went 5-6 from the foul line, and juniors Jay Zalis and Matt Murphy each hit a bucket to complete a 10-2 run that cut the game to eight points, 28-20. They kept the game within 10, and a jump shot by sophomore Javier Martin Ortega sent the game into halftime with just a seven point deficit, 38-31.
Cochran hit a three to bring the game within six, but MacMurray drained a two and a three to put their lead into double digits. They maintained a 10 point lead until Murphy hit a three from downtown with 11 minutes left to cut the game to eight points.
Junior Tanner Gentges downed a three with 4:01 left on the clock to bring the game within four points. MacMurray hit both from the foul line, but Cochran countered with a bucket to put the game back within four.
MacMurray had two consecutive possessions where they scored, and the Blue Jays could not find the net. MacMurray went up by 10 with just under a minute to go with two good free throws.
Gentges quickly passed the ball up to Zalis who put down a three. Gentges also scored a bucket in the final minute, but MacMurray went 3-4 from the line to hand the Blue Jays a 79-71 loss.
The Blue Jays shot 42 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from the arc. Junior Brandon Drum went 7-8 from the foul line while Cochran went 6-8.
Murphy led the Blue Jays with 15 points.
The men's team travels to Eureka, Ill. on Saturday to face Eureka College at 3:00 p.m.