Lions perfect against NAIA opponents

Early on this season, three key players have missed time with the Vanguard University men’s basketball team because of injuries. Two players have dealt with knee problems and another with an ankle issue.

The ailments to Myles Smith, Victor Evans and Brandon Hood haven’t disrupted the Lions’ best start in Coach Rhett Soliday’s six seasons in charge. A little more than a month into the season Soliday’s team has yet to lose in the games that matter.

The Lions improved to 6-0 against NAIA competition. They wrapped up their two-day Thanksgiving Classic tournament on Saturday with a 79-73 win at home against Benedictine University of Mesa, Ariz.

Vanguard led from start to finish, handing the Redhawks (3-9) their third straight setback. Two of those losses by Benedictine took place at the Thanksgiving Classic.

“We knew Benedictine was really good because we had seen [the Redhawks] in [Las] Vegas,” said Soliday, whose team competed in the eight-team Desert Reign Hydrocephalus Invitational on Nov. 13-14. “We knew they wouldn’t go away. We knew they were well coached and they run good stuff.

“We saw them play Westmont, [the NAIA runner-up finisher last year], really tough [in an 82-70 loss in Las Vegas] and we knew they played [at] Arizona Christian [on Nov. 18] really tough [in an 84-83 loss], and they’re two of the better teams in our [Golden State Athletic Conference]. We knew we were in for a fight. I think the start to the game really is what gave us the edge.”

The Lions joined Arizona Christian and Westmont, programs picked to finish No. 1 and No. 3, respectively in the GSAC, ahead of No. 4 Vanguard, in topping the Redhawks.

The first five minutes featured mostly Vanguard, which began the evening on a 13-2 run. Jaamon Echols, who led the Lions with 21 points, recorded more than half the points during the run by hitting a three-pointer, a floater in the lane and two free throws.

Turning the ball over four times and making only one of six shots contributed to the Redhawks’ slow start. During one stretch, Benedictine nearly went four minutes without a point.

Anthony Bryant broke the scoring slump with a putback at the 13:55 mark. Twelve seconds later, Bobby Ward scored right after Bryant came up with a steal, cutting the deficit to 13-6, but Vanguard doubled its lead in the next 5½ minutes.

Christian Ware-Berry, who finished with 14 points and six rebounds, caught fire for the Lions. He knocked down a three-pointer and two jumpers. Echols also drained a three, making it Vanguard, 26-12.

The 14-point advantage turned out to be the Lions’ largest in the first half. The Redhawks managed to trim it in half, on Richie Thornton’s jumper with 51 seconds to go before halftime.

Two late free throws by Echols gave the Lions a 38-30 lead at the break. Echols and Ware-Berry each led Vanguard with 12 first-half points.

Only the starting five for Vanguard scored in the first 20 minutes. While the bench didn’t get involved offensively, the Lions made 48.1% of their shots, compared to the 42.3% turned in by the Redhawks.

The first player off the bench to score for Vanguard was Antonio Bishop with 16:39 left to play. The 6-foot-8 forward swished a fadeaway jumper near the free-throw line. The basket sparked a 19-8 run in which Hood, playing for the second time in as many days, made a layup, then Malachi Hoosein (12 points and six assists) buried two three-pointers, and Brandon Brothers (10 points, five rebounds and two steals) and Echols each had a three.

With 9:19 left, Vanguard had its biggest lead, 61-43. Pat Garvin, an assistant who served as Benedictine’s head coach because Coach Steve Schafer was out sick, had enough. He asked for a timeout, and his Redhawks responded in the next four minutes, outscoring Vanguard, 13-3, to make things interesting.

“We’re great responders,” Garvin said, “but we don’t really set the tone right now.”

Less than five minutes remained, and after two free throws by Kyle Tomlinson (20 points and five three-pointers), Benedictine trailed, 64-56. The Redhawks wouldn’t score again until the 1:47 mark.

Vanguard appeared to put the game away with a 7-0 spurt, capped by Hoosein’s third three in the second half, giving the Lions a 71-56 lead with 2:45 to go. But Benedictine, a first-year NAIA program, continued to fight back, making it a two-possession game with 18 seconds left.

Vanguard led, 76-70, and at the end, Echols converted two free throws and Hood made one of two, keeping the Lions’ undefeated season alive against NAIA opponents.

“We didn’t hit free throws down the stretch, but I think we’ll get that right,” said Soliday, who saw Echols make eight of 10 free throws, while the rest of the team went a combined nine of 19.

“I’d like to be obviously healthier. I think when we have our full roster [with Smith and Evans back] … we have depth that can really, you know, present some problems for some teams.”

The Lions’ first test will come in their conference opener on Dec. 8, when they travel to Westmont, ranked No. 17 in the country. Echols, a senior guard, is looking forward to the matchup.

“We’ve been having them on our calendar,” Echols said of the Warriors. “Even though we’ve been locked in on our next opponent, [Life Pacific College at home on Dec. 2], we still got [the Warriors] on our radar. We’re prepared for them. We’re going to come in and give them a fight.”

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Nonconference

Vanguard 79, Benedictine 73

BU – Tomlinson 20, Ward 12, Cano 12, Conley 8, Lenz 7, Thornton 6, Bryant 5, Kindle 3.

3-pt. goals – Tomlinson 5, Conley 2, Ward 1, Lenz 1.

Fouled out – Bryant, Cano.

Technicals – None.

VU – Echols 21, Wade-Berry 14, Hoosein 12, Brothers 10, Allmon 9, Bishop 7, Hood 6.

3-pt. goals – Echols 3, Hoosein 3, Ware-Berry 2, Brothers 2.

Fouled out – Bishop.

Technicals – Bishop, Team.