Chandler, Ariz.- The OUAZ Spirit men's basketball team closed out the 2025 calendar year with a strong defensive performance, defeating Westcliff (Calif.) 68–52 Friday afternoon at Chandler-Gilbert Community College as part of the Cactus Classic. The win moves the Spirit to 7–6 overall and sends OUAZ into the holiday break with momentum.
OUAZ set the tone early by controlling the pace on both ends of the floor, building a steady advantage and never allowing Westcliff to find a consistent offensive rhythm. The Spirit's defense limited quality looks throughout the game and held Westcliff to just 52 points, while OUAZ methodically extended the lead in the second half to secure the 16-point victory.
Offensively, the Spirit were led by Carter Gittens, who poured in a game-high 26 points to pace a balanced OUAZ attack. Zeke Viuhkola added 18 points, providing a strong presence inside, while Quinn Thorne finished with 10 points. Max Mkpa chipped in eight points, and Hunter Richardson rounded out the scoring leaders with six.
OUAZ's ability to pair efficient scoring with disciplined defense proved decisive, as the Spirit pulled away after halftime and closed the game out cleanly to finish the Cactus Classic on a high note.
The Spirit will now step away from competition until the calendar flips to 2026. OUAZ returns to action on January 3, hosting Arizona Christian at Faith Arena in the opening game of the new year. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. (MST).
