The Westminster College men's basketball team dropped to 11-6 overall and 1-2 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) tonight at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium, as Bethany College shot 79 percent from the field (22-of-28) in the second half to post a 120-109 league win over the Titans. The Bison improved to 14-3 overall and 2-1 in the PAC with the victory.
Westminster trailed 17-16 six minutes into the game when the Titans went on a 10-2 run to take a seven-point lead (26-19) with 11:53 to play. Bethany answered with an 11-0 run to take a 30-26 lead with 9:14 left and held the lead for most of the period before taking a 10-point advantage (55-45) into the half. Westminster slowly chipped away early in the second half, finally re-taking the leadat 82-81 on a three-pointer by freshman forward Jake Zatchok (Berlin Center, OH/Western Reserve H.S.) with 9:15 to play. However, the lead was short-lived as the Bison posted a 10-3 run to take a 91-85 advantage with 6:50 left. The Titans would get no closer than four points the rest of the way, as Bethany led by as many as 14 points (114-100) with 1:20 to play.
The Bison were paced by junior forward Mike Drahos, who posted game-high totals of 41 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 15-of-19 from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Five Titans scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Craig Hannon (New Castle/Union H.S.) with a game-high 21 points, including five three-pointers. Other double-digit scorers for Westminster included junior guard Mark DeMonaco (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) with 19 points, junior guard Brian Fadden (New Castle/Mohawk H.S.) with 16, and senior guard Ed Pagley (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) and junior forward Dom Joseph (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) each with 12. Senior forward Pat O'Connor (Pittsburgh/Keystone Oaks H.S.) snared a team-best nine rebounds, while Fadden and DeMonaco each dished out five assists.
Bethany shot 63 percent from the field (43-of-68) for the game to 48 percent for Westminster (40-of-83). The difference was at the charity stripe, where the Bison connected at a 77 percent clip (30-of-39) to just 54 percent for Westminster (15-of-28). Bethany also outrebounded Westminster 47-35.
Westminster concludes its current three-game homestand this Wednesday, Jan. 26, as the Titans host PAC rival Washington & Jefferson College at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium beginning at 8 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.