GREENVILLE, Pa. - The Westminster College men's basketball team moved into a first-place tie by defeating Thiel, 78-66, Wednesday night on the road in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action. The Titans (12-6, 5-1 PAC) are now tied with Bethany for the conference lead.
Senior guard Greg Rosatelli (Clinton, Pa./Hopewell) scored his career high for a second straight game by bucketing a game-high 23 points. Rostatelli shot 6-of-9 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free throw line, while dishing out a game-high six assists and collecting a game-high four steals.
Sophomore forward Steve Bielich (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) scored a season-high 20 points, missing his career high by one point, while snaring a team-high six rebounds.
The Tomcats (5-12, 2-4 PAC) had four of five starters score in double figures led by Joe Herrmann's 18 points and Cory Chafee's 16.
Thiel led by as many as 18 points (34-16 with 6:18 left in the first half) before the Titans whittled the deficit down to four points (40-36) by halftime. Junior guard Craig Hannon (New Castle, Pa./Union) knocked down a 3-pointer at the 17-minute mark to tie the game at 44-44. Four and a half minutes later junior Chauncey Whitlow (Youngstown, Ohio/Woodrow Wilson) drained a 3-pointer to put the Titans up by 11 points (59-48) to complete a 43-14 run for the Titans and a 23-8 run to start the second half.
The Tomcats would draw as close as four points (58-54 with 5:37 remaining) before the Titans ran away with the 12-point win.
Westminster returns to action Saturday, Jan. 27, at Washington & Jefferson for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
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.
