Westminster to Collect Items for Inter-Church Food Bank at Dec. 20 Men's Basketball Game

In the spirit of holiday giving, the Westminster Titans are offering fans free admission to a top-level college basketball game, coupled with the opportunity to help those less fortunate.

Westminster will not charge admission to the men's basketball game between the Titans and the College of Wooster at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium in New Wilmington this Monday, Dec. 20, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of admission, fans are being asked to bring non-perishable food items and/or monetary donations to the game to support the Inter-Church Food Bank, a program of the City Rescue Mission in New Castle. Specific items needed by the food bank include sugar, flour, soup, instant mashed potatoes, rice, macaroni & cheese, canned fruit, peas, carrots, hot chocolate mix, cake mix and icing.

The Westminster-Wooster contest promises to be one of the top small college basketball games in the area this season. The run-and-gun Titans (8-1), winners of seven straight games, are averaging over 114 points and 18 three-pointers per game. Westminster received votes in the most recent D3Hoops.com poll for the first time this season on Monday. Wooster (8-0) enters the game Monday ranked second in the nation in NCAA Division III by D3Hoops.com. The Scots, defending champions of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), return four starters from last year's 26-4 team which advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight after earning a Final Four berth in 2003.

'We believe this is an opportunity for the local community to come out and see a great small college basketball contest and, just as important, be able to contribute to help needy families in our area,' Titan athletic director Jim Dafler said. 'We hope that the decision by Westminster to waive the normal admission fee will encourage people to come to the game Monday night and support this worthwhile cause.'

Local players dominate the Westminster roster, led by several Lawrence County products: junior guard Mark DeMonaco (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) (20.1 ppg, 5.3 apg); junior forward Dom Joseph (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) (14.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg); senior guard Ed Pagley (New Castle/New Castle H.S.) (14.9 ppg); freshman guard Craig Hannon (New Castle/Union H.S.) (13.2 ppg); junior guard Brian Fadden (New Castle/Mohawk H.S.) (9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg); and freshman guard Bobby Preston (New Castle/Neshannock H.S.) (12 assists).

For more information, contact the Titan athletic department at (724) 946-7307.

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