LATROBE, Pa. - Despite a strong and commanding first half, the eighth-seeded Westminster College men's basketball team lost 87-79 at top-seeded Saint Vincent College in the 2014-15 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The Titans were in control in the first half as they lead the entire half with the exception of when the Bearcats led 2-0 in the opening minutes. Westminster took its first double-digit lead, 18-8, when sophomore Matt Getsy (Mars, PA / Mars) made a three-pointer, one of a game-high 13 Titan threes, with 13:56 remaining. Westminster took its largest lead of game of 26-11 when junior Charlie Wallander (Pittsburgh, PA / Baldwin) drained a three with 10:29 on the clock. Junior Paul Carswell (Painesville, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) earned the assist. Saint Vincent, however, out-scored Westminster 24-12 for the remaining of the half and the Titans only led 38-35 at halftime.
The Bearcats continued their offensive surge as they took a quick 44-38 lead with 18:06 on the clock. The Titans continued to battle and eventually tied the game at 55 after sophomore Jason Pilarski (Pittsburgh, PA / Brentwood) made a pair of free throws with 10:45 remaining. Pilarski would tie the game again (60-60) with a layup with 8:54 on the clock, however, Saint Vincent took its first double-digit lead of the game (76-65) after a 16-5 run at the 2:52 mark. Westminster got within six points, 85-79, after a three-pointer by sophomore Cameron Pozsgai (Windham, OH / Windham) with 17 seconds remaining, but the deficit proved to be too large to overcome.
The Titans had four players score in double figures, led by Pilarski with a season-high 20 points. Pozsgai followed with 18 points, all coming from a game-high five three pointers which tied a career best. Wallander and Getsy added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Freshman Brandon Domenick (New Castle, PA / New Castle) scored nine points after shooting 3-for-3 behind the arc and dished out a game-high six assists. Westminster shot a season-best 56.5% (13-23) from three-point range. Wallander led Westminster on the glass with eight rebounds.
Westminster finishes its season 7-20 overall and 3-13 in the PAC. Saint Vincent (20-6, 14-2 PAC) advances to the Semifinals.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is a top-tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 379 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.
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. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.
