Senior guard Chris Hatch (Canfield, OH/South Range H.S.) led six double-digit scorers with a team-high 17 points to lead the Westminster College men's basketball team to its seventh consecutive win tonight in Pittsburgh, as the Titan cagers (8-1) posted a 95-89 non-conference victory at La Roche College (2-4).
The win streak for the Titans equals a seven-game win streak by Westminster last season from Jan. 3-31, 2004. It is the program's longest win streak since Westminster won eight consecutive games over two seasons from Jan. 27, 2001 to Nov. 16, 2001.
Westminster trailed 3-1 early when the Titans ran off 20 straight points to take a 21-3 lead with 11:50 to go in the first half, en route to a 45-28 halftime advantage. However, the Redhawks rallied in the second half, going on an 18-0 run over three minutes to cut a 21-point Titan lead to three points (51-48) with 15:35 remaining. Westminster steadily built the lead back to double figures and led by 14 (68-54) with 11:16 left when La Roche made a final run. The Redhawks cut the lead to one point on two occasions in the final minutes, the last at 74-73 with 4:52 left, but could not get over the hump to take the lead. The Titans then made all 10 of their free throw attempts in the final four minutes to maintain a single-digit lead and earn the road win.
In addition to Hatch, other Titans to reach double figures in scoring included junior guard Brian Fadden (New Castle/Mohawk H.S.) with 16 points, senior forward Dom Joseph (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) and freshman guard Craig Hannon (New Castle/Union H.S.) with 13 each, and senior forward Pat O'Connor (Pittsburgh/Keystone Oaks H.S.) and junior guard Mark DeMonaco (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) each with 12. Joseph added team-high totals of nine rebounds and three steals in the win, while Fadden dished out three assists. Demetris Pringle of La Roche led all scorers with 26 points in defeat.
Westminster will looks for its eighth consecutive win this Monday, Dec. 20, as the Titan cagers host undefeated and nationally-ranked Wooster (8-0) in a non-conference game at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Scots, an NCAA Final Four team in 2003 and Elite Eight squad in 2004, are ranked second in the nation in NCAA Division III in the latest D3hoops.com poll. In lieu of admission, Westminster will be collecting canned goods and taking donations for the Inter-Church Food Bank in New Castle.
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked among national leaders in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America’s Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of 'The Best 357 Colleges' and 'Best 115 in the Mid-Atlantic' by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a 'Character Building College.'
Nearly 1,600 students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty, while choosing from 40 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa. campus.