BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Westminster College men's basketball team won, 76-72, at Geneva College in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action Saturday afternoon.
Westminster (9-6, 4-2 PAC), who was up for the majority of the first half, took an early 10-point lead when senior Lloyd Chatman (Columbus, OH / Reynoldsburg) made a jumper five minutes in, putting the Titans up 14-4. Geneva (5-9, 1-4 PAC) battled back, and took its first lead since the opening minutes of the first half, with a 19-18 lead eight minutes left. Westminster quickly regained the lead and held a 10-point lead at halftime (41-31), thanks to a three-point buzzer-beater by junior Daniel Ritter (Lima, OH / South Range) – his sixth three of the half.
In the second half, the Golden Tornadoes would not go away as they tied the game four times before taking a 68-67 lead with 2:59 remaining. Geneva had its largest lead of 70-67, followed by Westminster taking a 71-70 lead and the Golden Tornadoes going back in front at 72-71. On the ensuing possession, Chatman made a clutch three with under a minute left to give the Titans the lead (74-72). Titan junior Clay O'Dell (Vienna, OH / Kennedy Catholic) made a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to seal the Westminster victory.
Ritter scored a team-high 20 points, for his second 20-point performance in three games, as he made a career-high six three-pointers, tying a season-best for the Titans. O'Dell followed with 17 points (7-of-10), 15 of which came in the second half. Junior Isaac Stamatiades (Elkridge, MD / Avalon) registered his seventh double-double of the season (third-straight), with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Senior Preston Stitt (Boardman, OH / South Range) scored a career-high 10 points and dished out a game- and career-high six assists. Chatman finished with seven points, while senior Blake Payne (Ashtabula, OH / Jefferson Area) added six points and seven boards.
Westminster outshot Geneva, 49.2% (31-63) to 41.3% (26-63) and held a 46-35 advantage in rebounds.
The Titans will next host Bethany College Wednesday, January 15 at 8 p.m.
