NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team fell 71-68 to Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opponent Westminster College on Saturday.

Westminster built a 16-0 lead by hitting five of their first six field goals before Thiel got on the board as Avril Campbell (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) finished a layup to make it 16-2 with 15:58 remaining in the half.
The Tomcats were able to pull within 10 on a jumper from Tyreik Burton (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) at the 13:07 mark.

Thiel went just 8 of 32 (25%) from the field and 1-4 (25%) from beyond the arc in the first half and found themselves down 16, 39-23.

Westminster continued to keep the game in hand to start the second half as they led by as many as 22 points before Thiel went on a 12-2 run to make it 55-43.

The Tomcats found themselves within eight as Alonzo Brown (Largo, Fla./Pinellas Park) stole the ball and Nyric Gosley (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) finished the fast-break making it 60-52.

After two good free throws from Burton and a steal and finish by the Tomcat senior, Thiel was within two with under four minutes remaining.

A good jumper from Gosley at 1:36 put Thiel back within two before Westminster converted on only one of two from the line to give Thiel the ball back with 12 seconds left and down three, 71-68.

On the Tomcats' final possession Gosley was able to get a three-point shot off but it rimmed out to secure the game for the Titans.

With the loss, Thiel falls to 5-10 overall and 3-7 in conference.

The Tomcats will be back in action on Wednesday as PAC opponent Thomas More College travels to Beeghly Gymnasium, tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.