NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.--Doug Smith hit a layup with three seconds to play as Westminster (Pa.) rallied from a 14-deficit in the final 12 minutes to knock off Mount Union, 79-77 in a non-conference men's basketball game Friday night.

Mount Union (0-2) led 46-35 at the half and extended that margin to 64-50 on a layup by freshman Tyler Fausnight (North Canton/Hoover) with 12:11 to play. 

Over the next four minutes, Westminster tied the game with four-straight three pointers, two by Smith.  There were then seven lead changes and three ties before Smith's heroics.

The Titans hit 10 of their 12 three pointers in the second half with five of those coming from Anthony Thomas who had a game-high 21 points.  Smith finished with 18 and Rob Briggs with 16 and 10 rebounds as the other double digit scorers for Westminster (1-1).

Mount Union was led by senior guard Ben Hodkinson (Tippecanoe/Harrison Central) who was one off his career-high with 15 points. 

Junior Matt Wier (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) had 14, Fausnight had a 12 points and a team-high five rebounds while senior Dave Pellerite (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) and Jimmy Wood (Wintersville/Indian Creek) each had 10 points for the Purple Raiders, who out-rebounded the Titans 32-26 but were hampered by 19 turnovers.

Mount Union continues a seven-game season-opening road trip next Tuesday (Nov. 23) at Trine (Ind.) University.  Tip-off in Angola, Indiana is slated for 8 pm.