WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster College men's basketball team lost, 78-74, in overtime at Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday.
Washington & Jefferson (5-5, 3-1 PAC), who never trailed in the first half, had its largest lead of 11 points (21-10) with 8:50 remaining. Westminster (4-6, 2-2 PAC) orchestrated an 18-7 run to tie the game at 28 with 1:31 left. The Presidents went back in front and led 33-31 at intermission. The Titans took their first lead of the contest (36-35) after sophomore
Anthony Ritter (North Lima, OH / South Range) drained a three-pointer in the opening minutes of the second half. Westminster remained in front and had its largest lead of the contest of nine points twice, with the latest one coming with 11:58 to go (50-41). The Presidents responded with a 13-3 run and led 54-53 with 8:47 remaining. Four lead changes ensued with the last one occurring with W&J taking a 64-61 lead with 4:26 left. Ritter tied the game at 64 (3:47 remaining) with a three and senior
African Grant II (Warren, OH / Warren JFK) tied the game at 66 with a jumper with just under three minutes left. The game remained tied, despite Westminster having a pair of scoring opportunities with 30 seconds left. Overtime started with four lead changes with the last one coming with 47 seconds left, courtesy of a three by W&J's Jonathan Devito to put the Presidents ahead 75-74. W&J made it a three-point game (77-74) with a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left. Westminster was able to convert on three total free throws in the final seconds and the Presidents held on for a 78-74 victory.
Ritter led all scorers with a career-high 19 points (8 of 12), while tying a team-high with a career-best three made three-pointers. Junior
Ricky Roth (Ellwood City, PA / Lincoln) also scored in double-figures for the Titans with a career-high 13 points (including a career-high three threes), while also grabbing a career-best six boards – which tied a game-high. Senior
Austin Armwood (Columbus, OH / Westerville North) scored nine points, while junior
Preston Stitt (Boardman, OH / South Range), sophomore
Josh Hutcherson (Uniontown, OH / Uniontown Lake), and junior
Dylan O'Hara (Girard, OH / Girard) each had seven. O'Hara also tied a game-high with six rebounds. Armwood and Grant each had two assists. Sophomore
Isaac Stamatiades (Elkridge, MD / Avalon) and Roth each pocketed a team-best two steals.
The Presidents outshot the Titans, 50.0% (27-54) to 43.9% (29-66). Westminster held a 38-33 advantage in rebounds.
The Titans are back in action at Capital University on Monday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.