The Bearcat men's basketball team improved to 12-2 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference with a 21-point road victory at Westminster College. The final score was 78-57.
Jaylon Bell had the hot hand at the outset, scoring four points in the opening minute. After Westminster tied the game, 4-4, Bell added to his total with a three pointer at the 17:30 mark. The Titans then took control, eventually taking a 10-9 lead after a steal and fast break layup by (#30) that made it 10-9 with 13:55 remaining.
The game remained close for the next several minutes, until SVC opened an 18-13 lead after a jumper from
Matt D'Amico and a pair of free throws from
JC Howard near the midpoint of the first half.
Up 18-15, Saint Vincent got a putback score from
Austin Dedert and a three from
Ben Klimchock that made it 23-15 with 8:35 remaining. The run continued with scores from Ford and Bell, and after a Westminster free throw, Ford added another jumper that made the score 29-16.
Bobby Swartwout scored on a layup from a
JC Howard pass at the 3:12 mark to make it a 13-point game, 34-21, but Westminster closed the half on a 6-1 run, as the Bearcats took a 35-27 lead into the locker room.
After Westminster scored to start the second half, SVC embarked on an 8-0 run, started by a Dedert bucket and capped by a Bell to Dedert alley-oop dunk at the 13:15 mark. After a Titan score made it 43-31, SVC went on another big run, this time 13-2, ended by a pair of threes from
Pat Jones and
Ben Klimchock, making it 59-36 with 12:14 to go.
The Titans scored the game's next six points, but SVC quickly regrouped with its own 6-point run, and the outcome was never in doubt.
Bell led the offensive attack with 21 points, while Dedert tallied 14 and Klimchock had 11. Howard had a team-high 8 rebounds.
Saint Vincent (12-2) has a two game lead over Bethany College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, while Westminster falls to 5-9. The Bearcats will host Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday night (February 10) in the Carey Center at 7:30PM.
