BOX SCORE

A free throw by Dennis Bassich with 1.5 seconds left lifted the Bearcats to a 71-70 comeback victory on the road over Bethany College, in a game that featured a career-high 21 points from freshman Dillon Stith.

The Bearcats managed to erase a 10-point second half deficit with just over 8 minutes left to play to earn the Presidents' Athletic Conference victory, evening their record at 2-2 in the conference and ending Bethany's undefeated home season.

Bethany opened a 16-10 lead in the early going, but Saint Vincent then embarked on a 13-point run, led by a three-pointer and a dunk by Stith, along with 5 points from BJ McGill, to take a 23-16 lead.

Later, a putback by Tauvon Pettiford, followed by an Armani Fountain jumper ran the SVC lead to ten, 31-21, but the hosts came back to cut the SVC lead to just two, 37-35, before Brian Pizer ended the half with a score to give Saint Vincent a four-point lead at the break.

McGill scored to open the second half and run the lead to six, but injured his leg on the play and had to come out of the game temporarily.  Bethany took advantage of the opportunity to go on a 7-point run over the next two minutes.  McGill ended the run, returning to hit a pair of free throws after a Bearcat time out, then Mike Burroughs scored to put SVC back in front by three, 45-42. 

After that, the Bison, led by Nick Wilcox, took control, outscoring SVC 17-4 over the next seven minutes to make the score 59-49.  The Bearcats then clawed back into the game, with a Bassich three cutting the gap to just three, 60-57, but the Bison later managed to increase the lead back to six, 68-62, near the four minute mark. 

Stith then scored on a conventional three-point play, cutting the deficit in half, and a three-pointer by Bassich with 1:57 left on the clock completed the comeback, tying the game at 68.

Near the one minute mark, Stith picked up his fifth foul, and the Bison hit both free throws to take a 70-68 lead, but with 37 ticks left, Pettiford drove through the lane to score and tie the game at 70.

The Bison had the ball and the opportunity to take the lead, but were unable to get off a shot and had to call time out with 11.9 seconds left.  They managed to get off a shot following the timeout, but Bassich ended up with the ball after the errant shot, and drew a foul while trying to work his way downcourt with 1.5 seconds left.

Bassich, an 82% free throw shooter on the season, hit the front half of the one-and-one, then missed the second shot on purpose, and neither team was able to gain control of the rebound in the remaining second, as the Bearcats earned the 71-70 win.

Behind Stith's 21 points, Bassich added 16 and McGill scored 14 for the Bearcats (9-5 overall).  Bassich, McGill, Stith and Pettiford each tied for the team high in rebounds, with four each.  McGill added six assists and four steals, while Pettiford dished out four assists.

For Bethany, Wilcox had a career-high 25 points, while British Alexander had 18 points and 8 rebounds, tied with Wilcox for the game-high in boards.  Bethany is now 9-5 overall, 3-2 in the PAC, and falls to 6-1 at home this season with the loss.

Saint Vincent will return to action on Wednesday, with their first conference home game of the year.  Waynesburg University will be the opponent, with tipoff slated for 8PM.