NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team struggled offensively in a 69-56 road loss to Westminster College Saturday afternoon in Presidents' Athletic Conference play.

Playing for the first time since Dec. 19, the Presidents couldn't find their offensive rhythm against the Titans. W&J converted just 31.9 percent (23-72) from the field and only 3-of-20 attempts (15 percent) from behind the three-point line. None of the five starters for W&J scored in double figures in the loss.

The first 10-plus minutes of the opening half were back and forth, as a layup by sophomore forward Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) tied the score at 19-19 with 9:49 to play.

Sophomore guard Primo Zini (Morgantown, W.Va./Trinity Christian) would follow with a split at the free throw line to give the Presidents a one-point edge. A successful jumper by Blake Payne gave the Titans a 21-20 edge at the 7:46 mark. W&J countered with a pair of free throws by senior guard Jonathan DeVito (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) with 4:20 to play until halftime.

However, the Titans would use a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to build a 33-22 lead over the Presidents. A successful jump shot by senior forward Jonathan Howland (Goshen, Ky./North Oldham) ended the run at the 1:07 mark of the first half. Westminster tacked on five of the final seven points of the half, including a three-point basket by Daniel Ritter just before the buzzer to take a 38-27 edge into the break.

The Titans carried that momentum into the early stages of the second half, as the home team extended its lead to as many as 19 points (50-31) with 13:51 to play.

Sparked by strong bench play from sophomore forward Alexander Skowron (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) and freshman guard Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic), the Presidents cut the deficit back into single digits late in the game. A layup and free throw by Mitchell trimmed the Titan lead to 59-50 at the 3:48 mark. However, that was as close as the Presidents would get, as the Red and Black fell by 13 points.

Skowron registered his first collegiate double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. The sophomore forward also added a career-high five blocks defensively. Mitchell filled the stat sheet with season highs in points (11), rebounds (6) and steals (7). DeVito chipped in eight points and four steals in the setback.

Ritter tossed in a career-high 28 points to lead the Titans. Blake Payne added 21 points and 16 rebounds in a double-double performance for Westminster (8-5 overall, 3-1 PAC).

The Presidents (7-5 overall, 2-2 PAC) will look to return to the win column when they host Thiel College (3-7 overall, 2-1 PAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The conference contest is schedule for 8 p.m. at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.