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Aiden Gilbert
Cory Hall
108
Winner Grinnell GC 1-1,0-0 Midwest Conference
107
Westminster (MO) WESTMO 0-1,0-0 SLIAC
Winner
Grinnell GC
1-1,0-0 Midwest Conference
108
Final
107
Westminster (MO) WESTMO
0-1,0-0 SLIAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Grinnell GC 57 51 108
Westminster (MO) WESTMO 55 52 107

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Ted Schultz

Gilbert's free throw with under a second remaining secures thrilling Grinnell victory over Westminster

FULTON, Mo. - Though just two games into the 2021-22 campaign, Grinnell College's men's basketball team played in - and won - what will easily be one of its most thrilling contests of the season.

With the score tied with 11.5 seconds left, Westminster College drove down the court to set up a potential final shot. At about the Bluejays' free throw line, Morgan Walser '22 tipped the ball away from an opponent and Aiden Gilbert '23 grabbed it and promptly dribbled quickly down the floor.

As he shot, he was fouled with seven-tenths of a second on the clock. After missing the first free throw, Gilbert swished the second. Westminster called timeout before inbounding the ball, but Grinnell's defense prevented a good look at the basket to preserve a 108-107 win.

In just the second game of his collegiate career, David Bluder '25 led Grinnell's  balanced scoring attack with 20 points while hitting 6-of-9 shots from 3-point land.

Adam Phillips '23 was equally potent from long range, hitting 6-of-8 treys while scoring 18 points. Patrick Simms '22 added 16 points and Gilbert 14.

Tommy Smith '22 led Grinnell (1-1) in rebounds with eight and Patrick Simms added six. Simms dished out seven assists and Dillon Gestring '25 blocked two shots.

Westminster (0-1) went up by as many as six early in the first half, but the Pioneers rallied to take a 32-29 cushion. It was back and forth after that, with the Pioneers taking a 57-55 lead into the locker room.

The lead fluctuated the entire second half, with Westminster building a 107-104 lead with just under a minute to go. However, Simms drained a 3-pointer with 21 ticks left to force a tie to set up the exciting finish.

Grinnell returns to Darby Gymnasium Wednesday to entertain Spurgeon College. Action begins at 7 p.m.
 
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