ERIE, Pa. - The Westminster College men's basketball team opened its 2008-09 season with a 77-55 loss at Penn State-Behrend on Saturday night in non-conference action.
Freshman forward Rob Briggs (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) posted a double-double in his Westminster debut. Briggs came off the bench and recorded game highs of 10 rebounds and 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Junior forward Ryne Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) was the other Titan to score in double figures with 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting to go with seven rebounds. The Titans shot 36.4 percent (24-66) from the floor.
Behrend shot 45.2 percent (28-62) and allowed Westminster to hold a 45-34 rebound advantage. However, the Titans were victimized by 18 turnovers as the Lions protected the ball with just nine turnovers.
Adam Potter and Pat St. Andrews led the Lions with 15 points apiece.
The Titans trailed 13-0 out of the gates and came back to tie the game at 22-22 before trailing 31-25 at halftime. The Lions then went up by 18 points just over four minutes into the second half and cruised to the 22-point win as the Titans could only cut the lead down to 13 points with 7:11 remaining.
Westminster will play its home-opener Tuesday night against Pitt-Bradford for a 7:30 tip-off at the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.
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 368 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.
