NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team outlasted Penn State Shenango 84-82 in the first game of the Buzz Ridl Classic on Friday.

Daquan Simmons (Capitol Heights, Md./Central) and Chima Omeihe (Lake Worth, Fla./Park Vista Community) combined for Thiel's first 14 points to establish a nine-point lead within the first seven minutes of the game. During the opening 14-5 run, Simmons drained his first three shots, all of which came from behind the three-point line.

The Tomcats continued to build on that momentum as they took a 40-33 lead into the halftime break.

Penn State Shenango would not go away quietly as they opened up the second half on a 17-7 run to establish a three-point lead with 13:42 remaining in regulation. The Lions went on to hold as much as a 10-point lead during the second half.

With less than two minutes left to go in the game, facing a 78-68 deficit, Thiel began to claw its way back into the game. Josh Allen (North Lauderdale, Fla./Westlake Preparatory) found Gissenson Bonhomme (Sunrise, Fla./Westlake Preparatory), who made a three-pointer to cut the Lion lead to seven with 1:30 left on the clock.

Ahmad Tejumola (Waldorf, Md./Saint Charles) made one-of-two free throws to trim the lead to 78-72 with 1:08 left to play.

Penn State Shenango's Tyrone Steals drew a foul on the next possession and was able to capitalize by making both free throws, increasing the Lions lead back up to 80-72 with exactly one minute to go in the game.

Two three-pointers from Devin Christian (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) and Nyric Gosley (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) powered a 10-2 run that tied the game at 82 in the final seconds. Christian was able to find Tejumola in the paint for the game winner, sealing the Tomcats first win of the season.

Tejumola led Thiel with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. He also collected eight rebounds. Gosley, who made 9-of-12 shots from the charity stripe, scored 16 points.

Christian chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds. Simmons finished the night with 12 points. Josh Allen (North Lauderdale, Fla./Westlake Preparatory) hauled in a team-best 11 boards and handed out four assists.

Penn State Shenango was led by Ramell Askerneese and Larry Ransom Jr., who each scored 13 points.

The Tomcats will take on the Bluffton Beavers in their second game of the Buzz Ridl Classic on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.