WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Over an 11-minute span in the second half, the Presidents overcame a 19-point deficit to take a two-point lead and eventually head to double overtime before succumbing to Thiel, 84-80.
That stretch, which began after Thiel's Luke Kochka hit a three-pointer with 15:31 left in regulation to put the Tomcats ahead by a 45-26 score, included eight three-pointers and W&J holding a 34-13 scoring advantage to rally all the way back to a 60-58 lead with 4:30 to play. In total, the Presidents knocked down 10 triples (of 19 attempts, 52.6 percent) in the second half after going 0-for-6 from beyond-the-arc in the first half.
From the 4:21-mark of the second half on, there would be five ties and three lead changes down the stretch in regulation. After a three-point play by Thiel's Clandell Cetoute with 1:07 left tied the score at 67-67, Mert Ozkaynak nabbed a steal and fastbreak layup with 51 ticks left to put the guests ahead, 69-67.
Brian Lindquist answered 25 seconds later, making a layup off a
Joe Satira assist and sending the two squads to overtime tied at 69-69.
W&J trailed by two, 72-70, with under two minutes to play in the first overtime but
Joel Garcia knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:52 left to tie the game and Satira made a pair with 59 seconds left to put the Presidents ahead. Cetoute got the rebound off a missed free throw just seconds later and put it back for the tying points and sending the game into a second overtime, 74-74.
Ozkaynak sunk a three-pointer 22 seconds into the second extra period, but the next four points were W&J free throws, 78-77. The visitors scored seven of the final nine points in the game to escape with the victory.
Brian Graytok led all players with a career-high 28 points. Two of his 10 made field goals being three-pointers and he also was the only player to play all 50 minutes. Satira was one off his career-high at 18 points, including four triples, while
Adam Joyce (three three-pointers) added 13 points and Lindquist contributed his fourth double-double of the season, including the second-straight, with 12 points and a game- and career-high 16 rebounds. Satira, Garcia and Graytok each recorded four assists to lead W&J.
Cetoute led Thiel with 21 points and 11 rebounds, with Kochka and Ozkaynak adding 16 and 15, respectively. Khari Bess turned in a double-double as well for the Tomcats at 12 points and 12 assists.
Wednesday night's double overtime game marked the first double OT for the Presidents since Feb. 12, 2014 at Grove City, a 74-68 W&J win. The last double overtime men's game at the Henry Memorial Center was earlier that season on Dec. 19, 2013 when W&J downed Juniata, 79-73.
The Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team will travel to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. tip-off against Chatham on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Highlights:Garcia with a steal and assist to
Gianni Buarne for the quick bucket early in the game:
Lindquist drives the baseline for two points in the first half:
Satira knocks down a three-pointer from the corner to open scoring in the second half:
Satira makes another one of his four three-pointers in the second half:
A Joyce three-pointer gets W&J close as time ticks down:
Two free throws by Satira give W&J a two-point lead with under one minute left in overtime:
