LATROBE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team took the conference-leading Saint Vincent Bearcats to the limit but fell 85-81 in a hard-fought game Wednesday night.
 
Senior forward Luke Kochka (Monroeville, Pa. /Gateway) scored 30 points, a new career-high, on 12-of-20 shooting, including knocking down five three-pointers. Kochka also pulled down seven rebounds and blocked two shots.
 
Senior guard Khari Bess (Waldorf, Md./Maurice J. McDonough) netted 20 points and dished out eight assists. Mert Ozkaynak (Izmir, Turkey/T.C. Williams) notched nine points off the bench while Avril Campbell (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) grabbed nine rebounds and scored six points.
 
Jaylon Bell had 27 points, seven assists and four steals for the Bearcats.
 
The Tomcats will continue their three-game road trip on Saturday when they travel to Beaver Falls, Pa., to take on the Geneva Golden Tornadoes in conference action. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Metheny Fieldhouse.