Westfield defeats Bellaire 48-38 in ANI play

Westfield took advantage of cold shooting by Bellaire from three-point range and the line for a 48-38 win in 2004 Academy National Invitational.

Westfield was led by 5-10 guard Derek Barnes with 15 points. He made four of seven from three-point range. Josten Crow added eleven points for the Mustangs. Pierre Beasley, a standout junior quarterback, grabbed eleven boards.

Bellaire struggled offensively in their first game without lone senior Brandon Lovings, who was recently dismissed from the team due to what Belliare head coach Bruce Glover called" attitude problems." Lovings is a slasher who averaged 17 points per game last year.

Bellaire was just three of 15 from beyond the arc and three of 13 from the line in the loss.

Jai Lucas, a 5-foot-11 sophomore point guard, was the lone double figure scorer for the Cardinals, as he finished with 14 points. He is the son of former NBA player and head coach John Lucas and younger brother of Oklahoma State guard John.

Isaiah Rusher, a 6-foot-9 sophomore center, made all four shots from the field as he finished with nine points and five rebounds. Dale Van Wright, a 6-foot-6 junior, was just two of eight from the field and two of seven from the line as he added six points.