COSTA MESA, Calif. – The first Golden State Athletic Conference trip to California of the season for OUAZ men's basketball got off to a tough start as the Spirit fell at Vanguard, 89-73, on Thursday night.
 
OUAZ (4-9, 0-4 GSAC) struggled with turnovers all night committing a total of 29, including 16 in the first half. Those turnovers led to 36 points from Vanguard (10-6, 3-1).
 
After the Spirit took a 16-15 lead midway through the first half, Vanguard went on a 21-9 run over a seven-minute stretch. During the burst, OUAZ had just one basket and they committed eight turnovers to help the Lions build a 46-32 halftime advantage.
 
OUAZ made a run in the second half when they trimmed an 18-point deficit down to nine with 12:10 to play by mounting an 11-2 run of their own. Karriem Simmons – making his OUAZ debut – scored five points during the run. Vanguard responded with eight of the game's next 10 points to push the lead into double figures where it stayed the rest of the night.
 
Along with the turnover disadvantage, OUAZ was hurt by their inability to hit from beyond the arc where they finished 4 of 17. The Spirit shot 50.0 percent overall in the game and went 21 of 24 at the foul line. They held a 37-28 edge in rebounds with 35 of those boards coming at the defensive end.
 
Brian Carey led the Spirit with 27 points for his eighth 20-point outing of the season with all of them coming in the last nine games. Carey made 10 of 13 shots and had four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
Shazier Lawson added 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocked shots. K. Simmons, Dimetres Moore, and Elijah Simmons had nine points apiece.
 
Vanguard's Isaiah Gentry led four Lions in double figure with 21 points.
 
The Spirit are now headed for El Cajon, California, where they will play at San Diego Christian on Saturday at 4 p.m. (AZ).