Memphis, TN- Christian Brothers opened the 2025–26 season Thursday night at Canale Arena, battling West Florida in a competitive matchup that stayed tight early before the Argonauts pulled away late for a 72–60 decision.

The Buccaneers came out with energy and confidence, matching West Florida point for point in the opening half. CBU played with pace, shared the ball, and controlled stretches of the game, heading into halftime deadlocked at 30–30. The strong start was highlighted by solid rebounding and timely scoring that kept the home crowd engaged throughout the first 20 minutes.

Iman Kheirati, with 16 points, provided steady production around the basket and at the free-throw line. Marquis Gill led CBU offensively, added 19 points and knocked down several key shots, while Caleb Gaitor contributed across the stat sheet with energy on both ends of the floor. The Buccaneers also did a nice job creating second-chance opportunities, finishing with 14 second-chance points.

West Florida found its rhythm in the second half, using transition offense and efficient shooting to build separation. Despite the shift in momentum, CBU continued to compete and showed resilience down the stretch, closing the game with strong effort and execution.

While the final score didn't reflect the competitiveness of the opening half, the season opener provided encouraging signs for the Buccaneers. With a balanced scoring effort and stretches of strong defensive play, CBU will look to build on this performance as the season moves forward.