NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College men's basketball team defeated Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Bethany College, 90-69, at home Saturday afternoon.
 
Westminster improved to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference, while Bethany fell to 3-6 overall and 3-1 in PAC play.
 
The win for Westminster marked the first time since the 2004-05 season that the Titans have won eight of their first nine games. The win also put them in sole possession of first-place in the PAC standings.


 
Westminster started the first three minutes leading, 13-6, off a pair of three pointers from senior Jarret Vrabel (Canfield, OH / Canfield). After Bethany pulled within three points (13-10), Westminster went on a 14-4 run, to take a 27-14 lead with ten minutes to go in the half. Bethany went on a run of its own, scoring six-straight points (33-20), but Westminster converted on a pair of three pointers from sophomore Lloyd Chatman (Columbus, OH / Reynoldsburg) and junior Austin Armwood (Columbus, OH / Westerville North) to bring the Titans up by 17 (39-22). Westminster led at half, 46-34.
 
Westminster, who split in total rebounds with Bethany at 21 a piece in the first half, outrebounded the Bison, 10-2, in the first five minutes of the second half, helping captivate a 57-42 lead. Bethany cut the Titans' lead to 10 (63-53) after a jump shot from guard Calique Jones at the 9:50 mark. The Titans went on a 10-2 run, fueled by sophomore Blake Payne (Ashtabula, OH / Jefferson Area) to regain a 16-point lead (71-55) with 6:53 remaining. Westminster maintained its double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.
 
Payne recorded a career- and team-high in points (24) and free throws made (8-9), while also finishing with a career-high in rebounds with 11, giving him the first double-double of his career. Titan senior Deontay Scott (Youngstown, OH / East) finished with a game-high 12 rebounds, while also recording 12 points, registering his fourth double-double of the season and the 23rd for his career. Vrabel finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Chatman recorded 12 points, nine of which came from three-pointers. Sophomore guard Cameron Kane-Johnson (Niles, OH / Niles) registered a team-high five assists, to go along with 12 points.
 
Bethany's Calique Jones totaled 30 points for the game, tying him with Kane-Johnson in the PAC for most points in a single contest this season. Kane-Johnson scored 30 against Division I Youngstown State University earlier this year.
 
Westminster edged Bethany in field goal percentage, 41.9% (31-74) to 41.8% (28-67). The Titans also outrebounded the Bison, 50-38
 
The Titans are back in action Tuesday, December 19 as they host Kenyon College in a non-conference contest. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.