CAL PAC DOWN GO THE DEFENDING CHAMPS

VALLEJO, Calif. — The Stanton University Elks traveled to the PE & Aquatics Center to face Orange County rival Westcliff University in the opening round of the California Pacific Conference Championships. Following a narrow victory over the Warriors in their regular-season finale, the #5 seeded Elks defeated #4 Westcliff again on Friday with a 72-66 final score.

Elks Overcome Reigning Champions

Stanton entered the postseason as an underdog against the defending conference champions. Just days prior, the Elks hosted Westcliff and secured a 66-64 win at home. In this neutral-site rematch, Stanton increased their margin of victory to six points. The win marks a significant upset in the tournament bracket and ends Westcliff's run as the reigning title holders.  

Performance Leaders

The Elks' offense relied on efficient perimeter shooting and veteran leadership:

• Nigel McKay: Led all scorers with 26 points, including seven 3-pointers. He also recorded 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

• Alex Stein: Contributed 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including four conversions from beyond the arc.

• Yasuhide Hino: Finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

• Rafael Gomez: Secured 7 rebounds and provided a defensive presence in the paint.

• Jermaine Patton Jr.: Provided 6 points and 5 assists off the bench to stabilize the offense.

Game Summary

Stanton trailed 30-28 at the half but outscored Westcliff 44-36 in the second period. The Elks shot 44.8% from three-point range, making 13 total shots from deep compared to Westcliff's five. Despite being outrebounded 48-29, Stanton's ball security and perimeter efficiency allowed them to maintain the lead throughout the closing minutes.

Next Matchup

The Elks move to the semifinal round in San Francisco. They will face the #1 seed Simpson University for a spot in the championship game.