LATROBE — At long last, Bobby Swartwout has found the right sport — and the right team.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Butler graduate is the sixth man on the Saint Vincent College men’s basketball team that recently wrapped up its third consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament championship.

Swartwout is averaging a pedestrian 4.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game for the Bearcats, but his role is growing with each game.

“Bobby is getting more and more minutes and he’ll play a big role for us in the (NCAA Division III) Tournament,” Saint Vincent coach D.J. Harris said. “He’s really rounded into form and has come on strong of late.”

Swartwout is at his third school since graduating from Butler in 2011. He originally accepted a baseball offer from West Virginia Wesleyan, then transferred to California (Pa.) after a year.

After two years of limited baseball action with the Vulcans, Swartwout called Saint Vincent with an interest in returning to basketball. He had played a key role in the Golden Tornado making consecutive trips to the WPIAL semifinals in high school.

“We had recruited him in high school and knew what kind of player he was,” Harris said. “He opted for baseball at the time and we respected that.

“But when he called us, we took him right away because we know what kind of basketball player he can be.”

Swartwout scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in the Bearcats’ 72-66 PAC championship game victory over Waynesburg. He also had a key block late in the game.

“I actually turned the ball over to begin that play,” Swartwout recalled. “I was trying to get the ball to the point guard and it was intercepted.

“I was mad at myself for that turnover and was getting back on defense to try to prevent a score. Their guy went up for a layup, I blocked it, and we scored in transition on a dunk going the other way.

“We were only up by a couple of points at the time that play started and the crowd just exploded, so it was a big 15 or 20 seconds,” Swartwout added.

Harris thought it was huge.

“It was a difference-maker in the game,” the coach said.

Swartwout has blocked 14 shots despite averaging only 13 minutes per game. He’s scored 16 points in a game this season, sank three treys against Geneva, blocked three shots against Westminster.

“My basketball legs were partially there when the season started, but playing competitive college basketball is different from intramurals,” Swartwout admitted. “It took a while before the legs totally came back.”

Harris had no problem waiting for Swartwout’s basketball skills to return. He has one senior on the roster — forward Sean Kett — and Swartwout plays that position.

Kett is averaging 13 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season.

“I fully expect Bobby to nail down that starting spot next year. At least, that’s the plan,” Harris said. “We’ll try to get him to lose weight during the summer and get him to be a little quicker defensively.

“But, overall, we’re happy where his game is at.”

Swartwout’s goal is to become a starter next year as well.

“Ideally, we’ll repeat what we’re doing this year,” he said. “We definitely want to win the league again and get back to the national tournament.

“Our mind-set right now is to win a couple of games in this year’s tournament. We’re capable of going on a bit of a run.”

The Bearcats open Division III tournament play at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Stockton University in New Jersey, taking on Bates (19-6). Bates is the New England Small College Athletic Conference champion.

Swartwout, a first baseman, will not play baseball for the Bearcats this spring. He’s debating whether to try it next spring, once his basketball career is over.

“I could go back and try it at that point,” he said. “For now, it just feels good to settle in and be a fit for a good team.

“It’s been a rough couple of years, but I like the way it’s working out.”