Feb. 11 – BETHANY, W. Va. – The Bethany College men's basketball team (14-8, 9-4) used a dominating first half to hold off Westminster College, 74-63, for the team's eighth-straight victory of the year.
The game was tightly contested throughout the first seven minutes, as the two teams found themselves knotted at 10-10 after a three pointer from Westminster's Matt Getsy with 13:09 to play. From there, however, the Bison would make their first surge of the contest.
Over the next six minutes, the Green & White would embark on a 12-2 run, to capture a double-digit lead. After a jumper by Alan Harper (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) opened the run, freshman Andrew Williams (Oil City, Pa./Oil City) came through with an "old-fashioned" three-point play. The converted free throw staked the Bison to a six-point lead with 11:21 to go.
Following a three by Jeff Joynes (Baltimore, Md./Poly), Harper converted on back-to-back jumpers, to put the Bison ahead, 22-10. A pair of Cameron Pozsgai free throws cut the Bethany lead back to ten on Westminster's next possession.
With 5:40 remaining in the first period and Bethany still holding on to an 11-point advantage (30-19), the Bison would make another solid run to close out the half. Bethany outscored the Titans 14-5 over the final five minutes and the Bison took a 20-point lead into the break. Darrian Bruster's (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) jumper with 3:20 to play in the stanza was the Bison's last made field goal in the half. However, Bethany stayed aggressive, and made the most out of the charity stripe, converting on nine free throws to help extend the advantage.
The second half started much like the first. A three pointer by Harper gave the Green & White its largest lead of the game at 25 points (49-24) with 19:07 remaining.
Over the next 14 minutes of the half, the Titans came storming back, finding new life and outscoring Bethany 33-12 to narrow the margin to just four points (61-57) with 5:19 to go.
Following the Titan counter punch, the Bison were ready with one of their own. Joyce scored the first points and was followed by four-straight from Antonio Rudolph (New Castle, Pa./New Castle). The last points by Rudolph gave Bethany a 10-point advantage (67-57), which they held all the way to an 11-point victory, 74-63.
Offensively, Joyce was once again the leader of the Bethany attack, finishing with a game-high 22. The points marked the fourth-straight game in which Joyce has finished with 20, the first time this year that that has happened. It also marked the seventh time in eight games that Joyce has posted 20+.
Other offensive leaders for the Bison included Harper and Rudolph. Harper also scored in double digits (12) while Rudolph filled the stat sheet, posting seven points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Calique Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy), Bruster and Joynes all tallied seven points each, with Joynes and Bruster added 10 rebounds, apiece.
With the win and subsequent Thomas More loss and Waynesburg victory, the Bison now find themselves just a half game behind both the Saints and Yellow Jackets for second place in the conference standings.
The Bison will back in action on Saturday, Feb. 14, when they host the Yellow Jackets of Waynesburg University. Tip is slated to follow the women's action which begins at 2 p.m.
