Westmoreland campus clippings: Seton Hill men's basketball off to best start in 2 decades

The only thing better than a fast start for the Seton Hill men’s basketball team would be an even faster finish.

The Griffins moved to 4-0 for the first time in nearly two decades with an 87-72 win over Roberts Wesleyan. Junior guard Sean Dillon erupted for 26 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists, while senior guard Samuel Tabe scored 21 and junior guard Ryan Meis had 14.

In the previous game, the Griffins topped Salem, 91-66.

Tabe (18 points), senior guard Drew Green (14) and Dillon (14) scored in double figures for the Griffins.

First-year coach Ben Wilkins, a Mt. Pleasant native, is pleased with his team’s play, but tempers his excitement because the season is so young.

“It’s definitely early,” he said. “Long year to go. We are just trying to get a little better each day. Our guys are playing with energy and playing hard for each other.

It is a special group of young men. They have unconditionally bought in from Day 1 with what we are trying to accomplish.”

Men’s basketball

Cal U: Sophomore forward Kadyn Hannah (Franklin Regional) had 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals as the Vulcans defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, 102-64. Hannah transferred from Division III La Roche.

Saint Vincent: Coach DP Harris has the Bearcats playing some of their best basketball in years.

SVC toppled Franciscan, 91-72, to move to 4-0, its best start since 2008-09 when the Bearcats started 9-0 (22-3 overall).

Freshman Jaden Gales had a career-high 26 points, while grad forward Shemar Bennett had 15 and junior forward Andrew Reed chipped in 11 and five assists.

Women’s basketball

Grove City: Senior guard Megan Kallock (Greensburg Salem) had 13 points, and sophomore guard Mara Polczynski (Norwin) grabbed six rebounds and added five assists as the Wolverines took care of Geneva, 95-56.

Saint Vincent: SVC stymied Franciscan as it moved to 2-1 with a 75-28 victory in its PAC opener.

The Bearcats limited the Barons to just eight field goals. The 28 points is the lowest total they have allowed in a game since 2005.

Senior Madison Weber had a game-high 13 points and sophomore Emily Thompson added 10.

Seton Hill: Helene Cowan (16 points) and Christiane Frye (14) scored in double digits and Sakeria Haralson grabbed 10 rebounds as the Griffins defeated Goldey-Beacom, 72-60, to move to 2-2.

Wrestling

Army West Point: Freshman Ethan Berginc (Jeannette) moved to 8-0 for the season with a win at 125 pounds but the Black Knights fell to No. 2 Iowa, 28-13.

Coker: Junior Trey Weinell (Derry) reached the consolation semifinals in the 125-pound bracket of the King Open.

Pitt: Redshirt senior Micky Phillippi (Derry) picked up his second win of the season, and 76th of his career, as Pitt fell to Maryland, 18-16.

Freshman Dayton Pitzer (Mt. Pleasant) gave up more than 50 pounds to 17th-ranked Nathan Taylor, but it did not matter to Pitzer, who scored a 10-1 win at heavyweight as the No. 17 Panthers defeated No. 12 Lehigh, 22-12.

Redshirt junior Colton Camacho (Franklin Regional) won by decision at 125 for Pitt.

Men’s soccer

Penn State Behrend: Sophomore Blake Cooper (Franklin Regional) scored the game’s only goal as the Lions held off Alvernia, 1-0, in the ECAC semifinals.

Cooper leads the team with 11 goals.

Seton Hill: Junior forward Fletcher Amos was named to the All-PSAC First Team and the D2CCA All-Atlantic Region second team.

Amos led the Griffins this season with 12 goals and 24 points.

Honors

Carnegie Mellon: Former standout running back Scott Barnyak (Penn-Trafford) was inducted into the Tartans’ Hall of Fame.

Barnyak was a two-time All-American and was named the PAC MVP in 1989.

He was the first 1,000-yard rusher in school history.