Box Score (NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.) – Senior forward Jalen Clark (Frankfort, Ky./Western Hills) scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half today (Saturday, January 31, 2015) to lead the Thomas More College men's basketball team to a 77-71 win over Westminster College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at Buzz Ridle Gymnasium in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.
With the win, the Saints improve to 14-6 overall and 9-2 in the PAC. With the loss, the Titans fall to 5-13 overall and 2-7 in the PAC.
Thomas More jumped out to an early 9-1 lead when sophomore guard/forward Nate McGovney (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) made a three-pointer with 17:06 to play in the opening half. Westminster answered with a 36-20 run capped by a Garrett Ashbaugh three-pointer with 2:32 to play in the first half to take a 37-29 lead. Freshman guard Daniel Williams (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersontown) made two free-throws with 1:51 to play in the half to cut the lead to 37-31 at halftime.
Westminster opened the second half on a 15-11 run to extend the lead to 52-42 when Brandon Domenick made a three-pointer with 14:30 to play in the second half. Thomas More answered with a 13-2 run to retake the lead at 55-54 with 9:57 to play in the game when Clark made a jumper. The Titans responded with a 7-4 run capped by a Matt Getsy lay-up to take a 61-59 lead with 7:26 to play in the game. The Saints built a 65-61 lead with 5:16 to play in the game when Clark made a lay-up to cap a 6-0 run. Deontay Scott made two free-throws with 4:10 to play in the game to cap a 4-0 run and tie the game at 65-65. Thomas More would then close out the game on a 12-6 run for the 77-71 victory.
Clark was joined in double-figure scoring by McGovney with 16 points, senior forward Drew Mumford (Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy) with 14 points and freshman center Louis Maniacci (Burlington, Ky./Cooper) with 10 points. Clark also led the team on the boards with six rebounds, while Mumford, Maniacci and sophomore guard Drew Mays (Union, Ky./Ryle) added five rebounds each. Mays led the team in assists with four.
The Saints return to action on Wednesday (February 4) when they travel to Bethany, West Virginia to play Bethany College. Tip-off is scheduled 8 p.m. inside Hummel Field House.
