NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The third-seeded Westminster College men's basketball team lost, 64-61, to fourth-seed Chatham University in the 2018-19 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament title game at home in a packed Buzz Ridl Gymnasium on Saturday.
In the first half, Chatham (19-9) took an early 6-2 lead. Westminster (13-15) responded with a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 7-6, after a layup by junior
Dylan O'Hara (Girard, OH / Girard), with 16:45 left. After the Cougars regained the lead (9-7), the Titans orchestrated a 15-2 run to take their largest lead of the game (22-11), capped off with a layup by
Blake Payne (Ashtabula, OH / Jefferson Area), with 12:07 left. The Cougars countered with a 14-1 run and regained the lead at 25-23 (7:51). Westminster went back in front and led 37-32 at halftime.
Westminster had a seven-point lead three times in the early stages of the second half, with the latest coming at 43-36 with 15:04 on the clock. Chatham answered with a 15-4 run to take a 51-47 lead with 11 minutes remaining. Westminster managed to tie the game twice, with the latest at 58 when senior
Austin Armwood (Columbus, OH / Westerville North) made a jumper with 4:28 left. Chatham made it a two-possession game (63-58), following a 5-0 run, with 2:26 to play. An Armwood three cut Chatham's lead to 63-61 on Westminster's next possession. The Cougars made a free throw and led 64-61 with 16 seconds to play. After a Westminster timeout with 12 seconds left, a Titan three came up short with six seconds remaining. Junior
Lloyd Chatman (Columbus, OH / Reynoldsburg) created another chance for Westminster as he stole the ensuing inbound pass, but Westminster was unable to capitalize.
Sophomore
Isaac Stamatiades (Elkridge, MD / Avalon) led the Titans with 13 points on 5-6 shooting. He also tied a team-high with six rebounds, along with Payne and senior
African Grant II (Warren, OH / Warren JFK). Chatman and O'Hara each finished with 12 points. Chatman also amassed three rebounds and a game- and career-high four steals. Armwood and junior
Preston Stitt (Boardman, OH / South Range) led the way in assists with a game-high six and career-high five, respectively.
Chatham outshot Westminster 45.3% (24-53) to 42.9% (24-56). The Cougars and Titans tied in rebounds with 34.
Saturday marked Westminster's second trip to the PAC Championship game in school history.
