LEWISTON, Idaho – Using an offensive attack that included seven players scoring in double figures and three runs of at least 14 straight points, the Lewis-Clark State College men's basketball team kicked off the coach Austin Johnson era with an impressive 111-39 win over Northwest Indian College at the LCSC Activity Center on Saturday.
 
Johnson was an assistant coach at LCSC under Brandon Rinta before leaving to be the head coach at Corban University for the last two years. After Rinta was hired at Central Washington, Johnson was named coach at LCSC.
 
"It is different," Johnson said about his first game as LCSC's head coach. "I mean there are a lot of similarities from sitting on that bench before, but being head coach here it's hard to put into words how much this place means to me and how good of a job I want to do. It's surreal, but it's good."
 
The Warriors showed why they are one of the favorites in the Frontier Conference with a strong performance, albeit against a much smaller and outmatched Northwest Indian College squad. LCSC jumped out to a 16-2 lead and then used a 14-0 run to end the first half for a 52-16 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Warriors used an early 22-0 run for an 85-22 advantage. LCSC led by as much as 75 late in the game.
 
"It was good to play against somebody else," Johnson said. "I thought our energy was great. I thought everyone played really hard. We are doing some different things defensively than what these guys are used to, and we haven't put in zone or press yet because I wanted to put pressure on our guys to defend in the half court.  So I was pleased with that and our unselfishness, which has kind of been a trademark here."
The Warriors forced 28 turnovers in the game and held Northwest Indian College to just 11-of-55 from the field, 20 percent. LCSC also allowed only three baskets inside the paint.
 
"For us to have that defensive presence and consistency for 40 minutes, I don't care who you play, that's what you want to do," Johnson said.
 
The Warriors depth also wore down Northwest Indian College. LCSC's bench outscored NIC's bench 64-2 and the Warriors also had a 62-6 advantage with points in the paint.
 
Newcomer Josiah Westbrook, a junior from Bellingham, Wash., had a memorable Warrior debut in a couple of ways. He scored a game-high 18 points, and accomplished the rare feat of being on the court with his father, Anthony Westbrook, who played for Northwest Indian College. The elder Westbrook missed his two shots, but did grab two rebounds in his five minutes of playing time.
 
Sophomore Damek Mitchell added 13 points, while Cory Dollarhide and Andre McCowan had 12 each. Trystan Bradley added 11 for LC, while Dana Abe and Conner Moffatt had 10 each.
 
LCSC finished 46-of-76 from the field for 60.5 percent, and 13-of-30 from the 3-point line, 43.3 percent. LCSC also had 31 assists, including six from Mitchell.
 
Every Warrior scored at least four points and had one rebound in the contest. Abe finished with eight boards as LCSC had a 52-31 rebounding advantage.
 
The Warriors are without their leading scorer from a year ago in senior forward Race Martin this weekend. Martin is recovering from both shoulder and ankle injuries and isn't expected back until mid-November.
 
LCSC and Northwest Indian College will play again Sunday with a 2 p.m. tipoff at the LCSC Activity Center. The contest will wrap up Homecoming 2018 at LCSC.