NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – Westminster College junior
Isaac Stamatiades (Elkridge, MD / Avalon) drained a three-pointer as time expired, lifting the Titans over Bluffton University, 71-69, in Westminster's home-opener in its annual Buzz Ridl Classic Friday night.
Bluffton (0-1) was ahead in the first half by as much as nine points (26-17) with 6:37 remaining. Westminster (1-1) battled back and cut the Beavers' lead to 35-34 at halftime.
The Titans had their largest lead of the contest of five points three times in the second half, with the latest one coming at 54-49 courtesy of a layup by senior
Lloyd Chatman (Columbus, OH / Reynoldsburg) with 11:25 to play. The remaining minutes went back-and-forth. Bluffton held a 69-68 lead with 1:52 left. With six seconds left, the Beavers, still up 69-68, were shooting a 1-and-1 at the free throw line. They missed their first attempt, and Stamatiades took care of it from there as he grabbed the rebound and dribbled it to the top of the key and drained the game-winning three as time expired. Stamatiades held his follow-through hand in the air as he backed into a running crowd of Westminster fans storming the court.
Stamatiades earned his second-straight double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Senior
Dylan O'Hara (Girard, OH / Girard) and junior
Daniel Ritter (North Lima, OH / South Range) both led Westminster with 16 points.
Westminster outshot Bluffton, 45.0% (27-60) to 39.7% (29-73). The Beavers outrebounded the Titans, 45-38.
The Titans will wrap up the 2019 edition of the Buzz Ridl Classic on Saturday, Nov. 16 against Penn. State-Shenango at 6 p.m.
