HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) dropped a career-high 18 points Friday evening in the first day of the Juniata Tournament as the Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team fell to Gwynedd Mercy by a 91-81 score. 

Made three-point field goals by J.R. Mazza (Bridgeport, W.VA./University) and Gearhart gave W&J an early 8-5 lead. The Presidents extended their lead into double digits, as a basket by Dirk Daniels (Phillipsburg, N.J./Blair Academy) gave the Red and Black a 25-15 lead with 11:24 to play in the first half. Less than four minutes later, Gwynedd Mercy used a 12-3 surge to pull within one point at 28-27.

W&J was able to extend its lead to 34-27 when Kaden DiVito (Coraopolis, Pa./Cornell) sunk a pair of free throws with 5:53 to play in the half. Eight straight points gave Gwynedd Mercy a 35-34 lead. The Griffins would continue to use that momentum and take a 45-37 lead into halftime. 

Gearhart, a Huntingdon, Pa. native, paced the Presidents in the first half by scoring 13 of his 18 points.

The Griffins led by as many as 18 points in the second half. The Presidents were able to close the gap back to single digits when a pair of free throws by Mazza trimmed the deficit back into single digits, at 79-70 with five minutes remaining in regulation.

Three-point shooting played a key role in the win for the Griffins. Gwynedd Mercy made 11 attempts from beyond the arc while W&J connected on just four shots from distance. 

Aside from Gearhart's strong effort, Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) finished with 15 points while Daniels registered a career-high 13 points on six-of-six shooting from the field. Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) added 12 points and seven boards.

The loss drops W&J to 3-1 overall while Gwynedd Mercy moves to 4-1.

W&J will continue play at the Juniata Tournament in the consolation game tomorrow against Pitt-Greensburg at 5 p.m. This will be the second time this season the Presidents will face the Bobcats. The Presidents claimed a 88-79 win in a season-opening win over the Bobcats on Nov. 8.