The Westminster College men's basketball team saw its seven-game win streak come to an end tonight at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium, as undefeated and nationally-ranked College of Wooster broke open a close game by outscoring the Titans 61-30 in the second half en route to a 116-79 non-league victory. The Scots (ranked #2 in the nation in NCAA Division III by D3Hoops.com) improved to a perfect 9-0 on the season with the win, while the Titans dropped to 8-2.
Wooster controlled play in the first 10 minutes, as the Scots took a 30-12 lead with 9:54 to play in the first half. Westminster rallied with nine three-pointers in the final 9:31 to cut the lead to six points (55-49) at halftime. The Scots then opened with an 11-2 run to build a 15-point lead (66-51) in the first three minutes of the second period. The Titans would get no closer than 14 points the rest of the way.
Five Wooster players reached double figures in scoring, led by Tom Port with a game-high 27 points. Westminster was paced by junior guard Mark DeMonaco (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) with a team-high 26 points, including 8-of-14 shooting from three-point range. Junior guard Ed Pagley (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) added 12 points, while senior guard Chris Hatch (Canfield, OH/South Range H.S.) and freshman guard Craig Hannon (New Castle/Union H.S.) each scored 11.
The Titans forced 27 Wooster turnovers while committing just eight. However, the Scots shot an incredible 73 percent from the field (48-of-66), including 64 percent from three-point range (9-of-14). Westminster shot 30 percent overall (28-of-95) and just 24 percent from beyond the arc (17-of-72). Wooster also outrebounded Westminster 65-27, including a 53-11 margin in defensive caroms.
Westminster basketball returns to action next week (Dec. 29-30) at the Monclair State Invitational in Montclair, N.J. The Titans will batlle Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) in an opening round game on Wed., Dec. 29, at 5 p.m., then will battle either the host school or Medgar Evars on Thursday (Dec. 30) at 1 or 3 p.m.
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.