BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

By: Steve Janik, Sports Information Assistant
 
The Saint Vincent College men's basketball team was defeated by Bethany College 85-65 on Senior Day, leaving both teams tied for first in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
 
With Saint Vincent entering the game at 12-1 in the conference and Bethany at 11-2, the game brought much hype and a crowded Carey Center for the final home game of the 2013-14 regular season.
 
SVC got on the board first with a deep three in the corner from Dillon Stith. Through the next three minutes, both teams trade baskets. Isaac Turner hit two treys in that span while Stith added a basket and one to put the Bearcats up 12-8 early in the first half.
 
However, Bethany would have an answer for the host's attack with an 14-5 run over the span of the next four minutes. The Bison used their five-point lead (22-17) to propel them through another five minute scoring spree to increase their lead to 36-20, with all points coming in the paint. Bethany would finish the game with 52 points in the paint to Saint Vincent's 24.
 
At the 7:07 mark, Turner used a fast break to get what would be a 12-4 run started. Sean Kett made his presence known down low starting with a putback layup off a missed shot.  On the other end, a Stith block would send Turner into the offensive end all alone for a breakaway layup.
 
Through the final four minutes, Kett continued to play strong in the paint with four consecutive points while Turner hit a three and Pat Jones hit a dynamite three with less than :30 left that sent the Carey Center into a frenzy into the locker room, as SVC reduced a 16-point deficit to just two, 42-40.
 
While the first half lived up to the hype, the second half saw the Bearcats struggle to get anything going on the offensive side. Although early on, SVC stayed close thanks to a clutch three by Ben Klimchock in the near corner to bring them within one, and on the next possession JC Howard would step in front of an errant pass and take the length of the court for an easy layup to give Saint Vincent the 47-46 lead, its first lead since the 15:36 mark in the first half.
 
However, Bethany would quickly regain the lead with the hosts unable to find an answer. Within three minutes of the Bearcats leading by one, just as quickly they were down by 10.
 
The Bison continued to make their presence known under the basket shooting an outstanding 17-29 (58.6%) while shooting 3-7 from beyond the arc. Starting at the 12:58 point, a span of eight minutes went by and only one time did the Bearcats make a shot from the field while their opponents continued to convert on the offensive end. Thanks to free-throw attempts, the hosts were able to stay down by 10 for much of that time span.

The final three minutes were not kind to the Bearcats, who could not get a shot to fall.  The team was 6-24 from the field in the second half.  
 
SVC was led by seniors Turner with 21 points and Stith who added 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
 
Bethany's Delonte' Joyce and Lawrence Weldon finished with 31 and 23, respectively.
 
Both teams are now 19-4 overall, 12-2 in the PAC. Saint Vincent will travel to Waynesburg on Wednesday in one of the final two conference games of the season. Tip-off is set for 7:30PM.  The Bearcats will then conclude the regular season on the road at Thomas More.  Bethany will host Thomas More on Wednesday and Washington & Jefferson on Saturday.