NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College men's basketball team closed out its annual Buzz Ridl Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Titans lost, 63-58, to SUNY Geneseo.
 
In the first half, the game was tied at 12 with 7:54 remaining. Westminster (1-1) responded with a 9-2 run, capped off with junior Preston Stitt (Boardman, OH / South Range) finding classmate Blake Payne (Ashtabula, OH / Jefferson Area) for a layup, and led 21-14 with 3:26 left. The Titans maintained their lead and were ahead 26-24 at halftime.
 
SUNY Geneseo (2-1) took the lead in the opening minutes of the second half and led for the rest of the game. The Knights had their largest lead (47-38) with 8:31 on the clock. The Titans got within two points of SUNY Geneseo's lead (55-53) when sophomore Daniel Ritter (North Lima, OH / South Range) made a fastbreak-layup with 2:03 on the clock. That would be the closest Westminster would get for the remainder of the contest. In the final seconds, Westminster made it a one-possession contest (61-58) after a jumper by sophomore Anthony Ritter (North Lima, OH / South Range), however, the Knights converted on two free throws to seal the win.
 
D. Ritter scored a team-high 10 points. A. Ritter, senior Austin Armwood (Columbus, OH / Westerville North), and senior Marco Delorenzo (Canfield, OH / Canfield) each had seven points. Senior African Grant II (Warren, OH / Warren JFK) led the Titans on the glass as he tied a game-high with six rebounds. Armwood also tied a game-best with four assists. Sophomore Josh Hutcherson (Uniontown, OH / Uniontown Lake) registered a game-high two blocks. Delorenzo, Hutcherson, and junior Blake Payne (Ashtabula, OH / Jefferson Area) each grabbed five rebounds.
 
For the game, SUNY Geneseo outshot Westminster 36.0% (18-50) to 34.8% (23-66). The Titans held a 41-39 advantage in rebounds.
 
Earlier on Saturday, Thiel College beat Defiance College, 66-48.
 
The Titans will next play at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania Monday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
 
All Buzz Ridl Classic Team:
Defiance: Marell Jordan
SUNY: Zack Panebianco
Thiel: Terrance Holloway
Thiel: Daquan Simmons
Westminster: Josh Hutcherson
Westminster: African Grant II