ST. GEORGE, Utah – Junior forward Tanner Omlid had his third double-double of the season while guards Akil Reese and Malik Leaks each finished in double figures off the bench as the Western Oregon men's basketball team came from behind to beat Westminster College, 65-58, on Friday night at the Dixie State Thanksgiving Classic.
 
Omlid led all scorers with 23 points on 10 of 21 shooting from the field while pulling down 10 rebounds to continue his streak of double-doubles away from Monmouth to three consecutive games. He added five steals, two blocks and an assist in 35 minutes on the floor.
 
Reese (3-8 FG, 3-5 FT) finished with 10 points in 27 minutes for the Wolves (3-2). Leaks hit all four free throws attempted and connected from distance twice to also tally 10 points.
 
Western Oregon's bench outscored the Griffins (0-1) 28-11 for the game.
 
Back by the opening seven points from Omlid and a 3-pointer from the starting Demetrius Trammell, the Wolves took an early 10-8 lead. Foul trouble from Western Oregon gave the Griffins an advantage from the foul line to see their lead crest in the first half at eight, 31-24. Western Oregon sliced the lead in half before intermission with two free throws from Ali Faruq-Bey and a made jumper from Buster Souza to trail 31-27 at the break.
 
Westminster briefly extended their advantage to seven, 37-30, before the Wolves responded with a tying rally. Omlid's layup preceded an offensive rebound that helped Connor Thompson lay one off the glass for two. Leaks nailed a 3-pointer after Westminster could not capitalize on two charity shots to pull even at 37-all.
 
The teams traded buckets until consecutive short makes from Omlid and Reese gave Western Oregon a lead they would not relinquish.
 
With the lead holding at five, 57-52, Reese hit a triple off a Leaks pass at the 1:21 mark that sealed the victory.
 
Faruq-Bey finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.
 
Western Oregon continues its road trip with a 7:30 p.m. MT game Saturday (Nov. 26) against tournament host Dixie State.