The Western men’s basketball team opened their 2009-10 home schedule with a 111-58 exhibition rout of Quest University Monday night in Carver Gym.

Western senior forward Michael Duty’s 17 points on 8-11 shooting and senior guard Derrick Webb’s 16 points and seven assists led the Viking scoring onslaught that included six players scoring in double figures.

“Offensively we moved the ball well and took pretty good shots, so that’s encouraging,” Western head coach Brad Jackson said.

Western’s record remains 2-1 because of the game’s exhibition status, and Quest’s record stays at 2-3.

Quest, hailing from Squamish, B.C., jumped out to an early 7-1 lead before the Vikings went on a 21-3 run over the ensuing five minutes to take control of the game, extending their lead to 35 points by halftime.

“We were a little lazy the first few possessions,” Jackson said. “ You don’t like to start a game that way.”

Western guards Morris Anderson and Cameron Severson also provided a scoring boost with 15 and 12 points respectively.

As a team, Western shot 57 percent from the field and 56 percent from 3-point range, both well above the team’s season averages.

Jackson said the Vikings physically overmatched the opposing team and this led to many easy baskets.

Western senior center Dave Vanderjagt, who stands a massive 7 feet tall, took advantage of his 7-inch height advantage over Quest’s tallest member, Jesse Norris, to score six points and grab six rebounds in 16 minutes.    

“They were little,” Vanderjagt said. “We probably won’t see that again.”

This was Western’s first home game, aside from the intrasquad scrimmage held Oct. 24, and the team was very glad to be back in front of their fans.

“It’s good to be back home again,” Vanderjagt said. “It’s good to have some fans cheering for us again.”

Jackson said approximately 250 fans showed up to Carver Gym for the scrimmage. However, the team hopes that number will increase as the season moves along, Jackson said.

The Vikings were in full control by the second half, never leading by less than 32.

“We got our entire roster in and got them some minutes,” Jackson said.

Quest head coach Sean Shook, a Western alumnus, said he expected this to be a tough game for his third-year program to compete in, but he said he was proud of his team's effort.

Coming back to a gym he spent a great deal of time in when he was younger was exciting, Shook said.

The Vikings out-rebounded Quest 50-23, led by forward Rory Blanche and his game-high 10 rebounds.

The Vikings will be back in action 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in Carver Gym against Team Another Level, a team that includes several Western alumni.

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