Box Score

BETHANY, W. Va. – Blair Rozenblad (Youngstown, Ohio/Kennedy Catholic) scored 10 points and corralled a season-high 15 rebounds to post his fifth double-double of the season and lead the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC)-leading Tomcat men's basketball squad to a 69-57 victory over Bethany College Wednesday evening.

The much anticipated matchup gave the Tomcats the chance to avenge last season's 74-67 loss to second-seeded Bethany in the 2011 conference tournament championship.

Thiel (10-4, 7-0) put together a very balanced offensive attack with three players finishing in double figures. Devon Adams (Philadelphia, Pa./George Junior Republic) continued his string of double digit scoring, hitting the mark in five of his last six contests. Adams finished with 19 points, five assists, and three steals. Chace McKinney (Boardman, Ohio/Kennedy Catholic) added 13 points and five rebounds.

AJ Forbes and Ladell Trotty (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) each recorded 10 rebounds in the win and anchored a staunch defensive effort in which the Tomcats limited the Bison to just 30.3 percent shooting. 

The Tomcats notched a season-high 50 rebounds and were plus-19 (50-31) on the glass against the Bison.

Bethany (13-2, 5-1) was led offensively by Nick Wilcox who tallied a game-high 20 points. James Barton added 14 points and four rebounds while Reece Mabery chipped in with 12 points and four rebounds.

The Tomcats jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage just 1:48 into the game and were up 11-0 before the Bison scored their first bucket of the game with 16:47 to play. A Kamran McKaskill layup at the 12:57 mark saw the visiting Tomcats extend their lead to 14, 19-5, and after weathering a late first-half Bison attack carried a 33-25 lead into the half.

Maybery's three-pointer with 15:41 to play finished off a 10-5 Bison burst to get the second half underway and cut Thiel's lead to just three, 38-35. With the Bison with four, 47-43, with just under seven to play the Tomcats used a 17-6 run over the next 5:29 to push back ahead by 15, 64-49, with 1:24 to play. A pair of Anthony Harvey (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) free throws with 11 seconds remaining closed out the scoring.

The Tomcats will be back in action on Wednesday, January 18 at PAC rival Grove City College. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.