SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ men's basketball team played one of its best games of the season and had a chance for a signature win before the visiting, and 23rd-ranked, Westmont team hit a shot at the buzzer to escape Willow Canyon High School with a 77-74 win.
 
OUAZ (1-6, 0-2 GSAC) had built a 14-point lead in the first half before taking a 41-37 lead into intermission. Westmont (6-2, 1-1) didn't take its first lead until the 12:16 mark of the second half. The rest of the game featured five ties and four lead changes.
 
Westmont led 74-71 with 1:12 to play in the game when Brian King Jr. completed a three-point play with a runner in the lane and the ensuing free throw. After each team forced a turnover, the Warriors had the last possession and Jordan Spaschak hit a three from the corner as time expired to win the game.
 
The Spirit ended the game shooting 40.5 percent from the field and they were able to run to the tune of 20 fast break points. They hit 5 of 22 from beyond the arc and scored 10 points from 13 offensive rebounds.
 
Dimetres Moore led the team with a career-high 27 points. His third straight game with 20-plus points came on 12 of 22 shooting and a pair of threes. He also grabbed four rebounds and had a steal.
 
The Spirit also got 14 points apiece from King and Tanner Riley. Marcus Williams scored 11 points with four assists and Leandro Amador grabbed 10 rebounds.
 
Westmont shot 45.2 percent with 44 points in the paint. The Spaschak 3-pointer was just their second make from deep on 13 attempts. The Warriors got 33 points from Olisa Nwachie and 24 from Kyle Scalmanini.
 
OUAZ has four games remaining this month, including on Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Westcliff in a non-conference game at Willow Canyon High School.