BETHANY, W.Va. - The Westminster College men's basketball teams became the first Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) team to break Bethany's conference game win streak. The Titans went on the road Saturday and defeated the Bison, 96-82, breaking Bethany's string of 29 consecutive wins against PAC opponents.
The Titans (11-6, 4-1 PAC) are now just a half game out of first place in the league behind Bethany (12-5, 5-1 PAC) who played one more game in league play.
Senior guard Nick Adams (Huntsburg, Ohio/Cardinal) had the hot hand for the Titans as he knocked down a career-high 27 points for just his third 20-point game of his career, surpassing his previous best of 21 points score earlier this year.
Adams shot 8-of-11 from the floor including a sizzling 6-of-8 from 3-point range. He also buried 5 of 5 free throws.
Senior guard Greg Rosatelli (Clinton, Pa./Hopewell) also set a new career high with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor and 8-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line. The Titan point man also dished out seven assists and notched as season-high six steals and eight rebounds.
Senior guard/forward Dom Joseph (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) and sophomore center Steve Bielich (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) also chipped in with 15 points apiece.
The Titans shot 50 percent (32-64) from the floor including a season-high 55.2 percent (16-29) from 3-point range.
James Wallace led the Bison with 26 points and six rebounds, while Ryan Besancon registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.
Westminster led by as many as 12 points (43-31) before taking a 37-46 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Titans extended that lead to 16 points (55-39) with 17 minutes remaining. The Bison whittled that lead down to seven points (71-64) with 6:42 to go before going back up by 14 and holding that lead for the remainder of the game.
The Titans return to action Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Thiel for a PAC game tipping off 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 361 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" 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 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa. campus.
