Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Just days after knocking off the No. 1 team in the country, Biola suffered an upset of its own as the offense fell flat in a close game against Westmont on Tuesday, falling 60-56 in a GSAC contest on Tuesday.
The Eagles drop to 12-5 and to 2-3 in GSAC play while the Warriors improve to 12-2 and to 4-1 in the conference.
The game was the 99th all-time meeting between the two long-time rivals and--like just about everyone before it--was another close contest.
After trailing through the entire first half, Biola closed out the period on a 4-0 run, then opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take a 35-27 lead with 17:30 left. However, Westmont would outscore Biola 22-8 over the next 10 minutes to take back the lead at 49-43 with 7:23 to go.
Biola responded with what turned out to be a five-point possession to close back to within one. Zack Zaragoza hit a fastbreak layup off a steal and was fouled. He would miss the free throw, but Given Kalipinde pulled down the offensive rebound, kicked it over to Chase Adams, who drained a three-pointer in front of the Biola bench to make it a one-point game.
Two possessions later, Biola took the lead back on a fast-break layup by Kalipinde, which made it 50-49 with 5:36 and set up a wild finish.
The teams went back and forth over the next four minutes with Westmont taking a one-point lead on a bucket by Cooper Damron with 1:18 to play. On Biola's next possession, Kalipinde and Zaragoza each missed open three's before the Warriors pulled down the rebound.
With 13 seconds left, Westmont would convert a pair of free throws to give the visitors a 57-54 lead. Biola had one last chance to tie and came up lucky as Chase Adams missed a three-pointer but was fouled on the attempt, giving him three free throws to tie with four seconds left.
However, he missed the first shot but made the next two to pull the Eagles back to within one. The Eagles, though would commit a big error on the inbounds pass, though, as Davey Hopkins was called for an intentional foul, giving Westmont two shots and the ball. After C.J. Miller made one of two free throws, Landon Boucher was fouled with three seconds left and hit both, giving Westmont a four-point lead and the game.
Four of Biola's five starters scored in double figures with Kalipinde leading the way with 13. He also had eight rebounds, six steals, six assists and two blocks for the Eagles. Adams scored 12 points with Murillo and Hopkins each adding 10.
Preston Branson scored a game-high 21 points for the Warriors with Miller adding 13 and Damron adding 10.
Westmont dominated the game inside, scoring 36 points in the paint and out-rebounding Biola 40-31.
The Eagles return to the court on Saturday, traveling south to face Point Loma Nazarene University in a GSAC contest at 7:30 p.m.
