BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (Nov. 30) - The Bearcats had four players score in double-digits as they opened up 2011-12 Presidents' Athletic Conference action with a 79-66 win over Westminster at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.

The Saint Vincent men's basketball team opens the season with a 5-1 record and 1-0 mark in the PAC. Westminster falls to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in league play to start the campaign.

Trailing, 4-2, just under 2:30 into the game, the Bearcats went on a 15-4 run over the next five minutes, capped off by a three pointer from sophomore Isaac Turner, to open up a 17-8 lead at the 12:31-mark. After Westminster scored the next four points to cut the lead to 17-12, SVC scored eight-straight points on layups by senior Dennis Bassich, sophomore Dillon Stith and Turner, while Turner capped the run with a jumper with 7:21 remaining in the half. SVC built its lead to as many as 14 points three different times, including on a three pointer by Bassich with 48 seconds left before a Westminster layup sent the teams into the locker room with a 12 point margin.

At the midway point of the second half, the Bearcats had stretched their lead to as many at 17 points on a layup by junior Edmond Wright II. The two teams played back-and-forth basketball for the next seven minutes with Westminster cutting the deficit to as close as nine points, before SVC hit 10 free throws, including six from Wright, over the final 2:39 to seal the game.

Bassich led all scorers with 25 points behind five three pointers, while Turner added 15 and senior Tauvon Pettiford and Wright chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively. Turner and junior Armani Fountain led the team with eight rebounds a piece with Pettiford hauling in seven boards. Bassich also added a game-high five assists in the win.

SVC shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the floor for the game while also capitalizing on 76.5 percent (13-of-17) free-throw attempts. The Bearcats held the Titans to 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the field after forcing Westminster to shoot just 35.9 percent in the first half.

Saint Vincent returns to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 7 when they host Grove City at 7:30 p.m. in the Carey Center for the PAC home opener.