NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College men's basketball team dropped a non-conference home game against Penn State-Behrend, 80-65, Saturday at the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.
Aside from opening three minutes, the Titans (0-4) trailed the entire game and faced a 36-25 halftime deficit. The closest Westminster could get in the second half was an eight-point, 51-43 deficit after senior guard Craig Hannon (New Castle, Pa./Union) drained a 3-pointer with 10:20 remaining for three of his six points.
The Lions (3-0) immediately answered with six points and led by as many as 24 points down the stretch.
Sophomore forward Ryne Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) scored a game- and career-high 27 points for Westminster in his first start of the season. Murray bucketed 11 of 20 shots from the field and 3 of 9 from 3-point range.
The Titans' next highest scorer was senior forward/guard Chauncey Whitlow (Youngstown, Ohio/Woodrow Wilson) with seven points.
Dan Zeigler led Behrend with 17 points, followed by Kevin Buczynski and Tom Newman with 14 and 12, respectively.
The Lions out-rebounded the Titans, 35-24. The Titans shot 44.1 percent (26-59) form the field, compared to the Lions at 60.8 percent (31-51).
The Titans travel to Juniata Monday night for a 7 p.m. start.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked 15th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly 2007 Annual College Guide. Westminster is a national leader 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 366 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 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.
