NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team defeated the Penn State Shenango Lions, 84-62, in a non-conference game Friday night to open the Buzz Ridl Classic, hosted by Westminster College.

Thiel opened the game on a 10-0 run, spearheaded by two Elijah Harden (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) three-pointers. Thiel held a 19-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Penn State Shenango was able to cut into the Thiel lead, but the Tomcats held a 15-point advantage at halftime.

The beginning of the second half was back and forth, as both teams traded baskets. However, the Tomcats eventually built up a 25-point lead, and would not look back.

The Tomcats shot 83 percent (15-18) from the charity stripe, while also shooting 46 percent from the field. Thiel also had 52 points in the paint, 21 second chance points and 39 points from the bench.

Thiel was led by Harden who recorded a team-high 17 points, including three three-pointers. Rayshod Hooper (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) recorded his first double-double of the season, chipping in 14 points and 15 rebounds. Ethan Barnes (Boynton Beach, Fla./Suncoast) scored 15 points, while Gabriel Gonzalez (Merida, Venezuela/Southwest Miami) chipped in 10 points. Mike Brown (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) tallied a team-high four assists to go along with his nine points.

Penn State Shenango was led by D'Montez Owens who tallied 18 points and one rebound. Jeremiah Green recorded 14 points and six rebounds, while Cameron Brown recorded 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Tomcats will wrap up play in the Buzz Ridl Classic on Saturday when they play the Carthage Firebirds. The non-conference game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.