NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Tomcat men's basketball team erased an 8-point second-half deficit to defeat the Titans of Westminster 75-60 on Wednesday night and improve to 6-0 on the season.

Westminster came out of the gates quickly, as they never trailed in the first half and led by as many as nine, 23-14 with 8:44 remaining in the first half. Thiel finally shook off the rust and came alive, going on a 9-5 run behind four of Kamran McCaskill (Carol City, Fla./Miami Beach)'s 16 points to head to the locker room for halftime trailing 28-25.

In the second half it was initially more of the same, with Westminster increasing their lead to eight, 45–37 with 13:39 left to play. But the Tomcats, playing the role of the sleeping giants, began to chip away at their lead. With the Titans up by eight the Tomcats, behind Ladell Trotty (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East)'s seven points, went on a 9-0 run, including a three-pointer from Trotty to give Thiel its first lead (46-45) of the contest with 10:39 left to play.

After a Paul Carswell layup gave the Titans back the lead, 47-46 with 10:32 remaining, the Tomcats took control, utilizing a 14-1 run to push their lead to 12 with 7:58 left in regulation. Thiel never trailed after the 10:32 mark, and the Titans got no closer than to within four points, 60-56 with 5:54 to play before the Tomcats put the game away for good with a 15-4 run to seal the win.
 
With the victory, Thiel improves to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in PAC play. Westminster falls to 2-4 overall, and 0-3 in the PAC.
 
The Tomcats improve upon their best start to a season in program history, as this is the first time a Thiel men's basketball team has started 6-0. The win also gives Coach Tim Loomis 73 career wins at Thiel, tying him with Thiel Hall of Famer Charles “Bud” Manes for second all-time.

Offensively, the Tomcats were lead by a double-double from senior Ladell Trotty (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East), who posted game and season-highs of 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-3 from the three-point line, and 16 rebounds.  McCaskill added 16 points, six rebounds and four steals while A.J. Forbes (Lighthouse Point, Fla./Pompano Beach) chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Chace McKinney (Boardman, Ohio/Kennedy Catholic) was the fourth and final Tomcat to register double figures, adding 12 points and four rebounds.


Thiel out shot the Titans throughout the contest, 46% (28-of-60) to 34% (21-of-61), outrebounded Westminster 46-to-32 and turned the ball over fewer times, 10-to-15.

The Tomcat's next contest will be on the road against the Bison of Bethany College on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.