NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's basketball team dropped an 88-82 overtime decision Wednesday night at longtime rival Westminster in Presidents' Athletic Conference North Division action at Memorial Field House.
Four Grove City players scored in double figures, led by a season-high 31 points from senior forward
Mike Christenson (Oakton, Va./Trinity). Senior guard
Kyle Randle (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) fired in 17 points while junior guard
Colton Martin (Centerburg, Ohio/Centerburg) deposited 14 points. Junior center
Austin Johncour (Sewickley, Pa./Avonworth) posted 10 points, along with a game-high nine rebounds.
Randle gave Grove City a 74-72 lead by draining a three-pointer with 14 seconds left in regulation. Westminster tied the game on its final possession when D.J. Harrell scored on a fast break layup.
A Martin three-pointer and Johncour's layup gave Grove City an 82-78 lead with two minutes left in overtime. However, Grove City misfired on each of its last four possessions as Westminster closed overtime on a 10-0 run.
Grove City trailed 41-35 at halftime and quickly trailed by nine points early in the second half. Christenson's three-pointer and a jumper by sophomore forward
Liam Conklin (Enfield, Conn./Northwest Catholic) closed the lead to 51-50 with 12:19 left.
Johncour then gave the Wolverines (10-14, 7-8) their first lead of the second half with a layup. Christenson scored consecutive layups later in the half to give Grove City its largest lead of the second half, 58-54, with eight minutes left in regulation.
Grove City shot 32 of 62 (52 percent) from the field for the game, including 8-for-15 marksmanship on three-pointers. Christenson added seven rebounds. Westminster held a 36-34 rebound advantage.
Westminster shot 34 of 70 (49 percent) from the floor. The Titans had 10 turnovers while Grove City turned over the ball 14 times.
Christenson and junior forward
Caleb Haller (Delaware, Ohio/Marion Hawks) both had six assists. Christenson also had four steals. Johncour blocked three shots.
Harrell led Westminster with 36 points.
Grove City concludes the regular season Saturday at Thiel. That North Division tussle will tip off at 3 p.m. in Greenville.