College Roundup: Vanguard men’s basketball team eliminated

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Concordia 97,

Vanguard 91

IRVINE — Senior Ennis Whatley Jr. led the visiting Lions with 26 points in his final collegiate game, while sophomore guard Chris Gormon and junior guard Preston Wynne added 25 and 21, respectively, in the quarterfinal of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.

Whatley Jr. made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts and added a team-best nine rebounds. His two free throws with 3:35 left closed Vanguard within 85-82.

But the host Eagles (20-10) pulled away to advance.

Gormon was 10 of 19 from the field, including three of six from three-point range.

Vanguard, which completed its season at 17-12, shot 50.7% from the field and had only eight turnovers.

Peter Smith, the GSAC Player of the Year, had 28 points for the winners, who shot 61.8% for the game (34 of 55).