PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but needed a late rally that fell short in a 77-69 Presidents' Athletic Conference loss at Chatham.

W&J opened up an 11-2 lead 5:34 into the game thanks to a start that saw the Presidents shoot 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free-throw line. Brian Graytok (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) led the run with six points, while Mike Zappala (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) added three and Sean Stinelli (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) notched a bucket. A triple by Jonathan Devito (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and then a basket off the hand Graytok pushed the margin to 11 points, 18-7, with 10:52 left in the first half.

After a three-point play from Brian Lindquist (Narvon, Pa./Pequa Valley) at 9:38 gave W&J a game-high 12-point advantage, 23-11, and Stinelli sank a jumper at 7:18 (25-14), the Cougars used an 8-0 run as part of a larger 14-2 streak to snare the lead for the first time at 3:09 of the first half, 28-27. Chatham's Josh Randall scored 11 points during the spurt.

Over the final eight seconds of the first half and 2:35 of the second half, the Cougars scored 12-straight points to stretch the lead to 15 points, 46-31. The margin got as big as 21 points, 56-35, before W&J would embark on a 22-8 run thanks to separate 9-0 and 11-0 jaunts. Stinelli led the way with eight points during the rush, while Christian Rohaus (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) sank a pair of three-pointers to get the Presidents within seven at 64-57. A Devito layup with 1:33 to play brought the red & black within six, which was as close as they could get it, before the final margin yielded 77-69.

Graytok led the Presidents with 20 points and four assists in a game-high 39 minutes. After a stretch where the junior had failed to reach double figures in four of five games, he's now been in double figures in three-straight contests. Stinelli finished with 16 points and a career-high nine rebounds. His 16 points match the total from his collegiate debut against Denison earlier this season and were one shy of his season top total. Zappala turned in 10 points, his first game in double digits, and seven boards.

W&J will return to its normal Wednesday-Saturday PAC schedule for the remainder of the season, next taking the court at home on Wednesday, Jan. 11 with an 8 p.m. tipoff against Bethany. The game will be broadcast live on the PAC Sports Network.