WASHINGTON, Pa. -- After rebounding a missed free throw, sophomore guard Tyler Haas' baseline jumper fell off the rim as time expired and Bethany held off Washington & Jefferson 66-64 in PAC men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Henry Memorial Center. 

The Presidents (8-8, 3-4 PAC) fought the Bison (13-3, 6-1 PAC) tough the entire afternoon as the game was tied on six different occassions and the lead traded hands five times.  Ultimately, BC's pressure defense proved to be the difference as the Bison forced 22 turnovers which turned into 28 points.

The first half ended in a 30-30 tie after the Presidents clawed back from an early 18-11 hole.  Junior forward Nate Bellhy scored three seconds before the halftime horn to give W&J momentum heading into the locker rooms. 

W&J took the lead twice early in the second half, but the Bison strung together a 18-6 spurt to push its advantage to double digits for the first time (58-45) at the 7:52 mark.  BC held the Presidents scoreless for nearly five minutes to grab the big lead. 

The Presidents answered with a 13-2 run and eventually closed to within 62-61 after a pair of free throws from junior forward Mike Resnik with 3:16 remaining.  Tyrone Smothers canned two foul shots at the 2:51 mark for Bethany and then the teams went scoreless until W&J junior point guard Doug Johnson went 1-for-2 at the line with 48 seconds left. 

Pedro Lalor missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with six seconds left, but Leslie Addy grabbed the rebound and his lay-up made it a 66-62 game. 

W&J junior forward Mitch Locher took a long inbound pass and laid in a basket, while being fouled with 2.3 seconds left.  He missed the ensuing free throw, but Haas skyed for the rebound.  However, his off-balanced jumper fell short and BC escaped. 

Johnson paced the Presidents with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Resnik added 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.  Locher netted nine points and also grabbed seven boards.  W&J shot 49 percent (22-49) and held a 37-28 rebounding edge. 

Bethany shot 45 percent (26-58) and was led by Kevin Jackson's game-high 23 points (10-13 field goals). 

W&J travels to Geneva Wednesday night for a 7:30 pm game in Beaver Falls.