BEAVER FALLS, Pa. -- Five Presidents scored in double figures as W&J men's basketball team rolled up its highest point total in 18 years in a 111-103 road victory over Geneva College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game at Metheny Fieldhouse.
The 111 points is tied for the fourth-highest single-game total in W&J men's basketball history. The 111 points is also the most in a game since W&J scored 111 vs. Westminster on Jan. 28, 2004.
W&J improves to 18-4 overall and remains tied for first place with Chatham at 13-2 in PAC play. W&J has won 14 straight road games dating back to the start of the 2020-21 season. The loss drops Geneva 10-5 in PAC play and 12-9 overall. The W&J win avenges a loss to the GT's at home back on Jan. 8.
Sophomore guard
Michael Bigley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) registered a career-high 26 points to lead all scorers in the victory. Bigley added a team-best eight rebounds for the Red and Black. Sophomore guard
Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) turned in 23 points for a his second straight game. Junior guard
Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) finished with 20 points and five assists.
Sophomore guard
Isaiah Langston (Coraopolis, Pa./Cornell) and senior forward
Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) added 16 points and 14 points, respectively.
The Presidents converted 60 percent of its field goal attempts (45-of-75) with Bigley making 12 field goals and Gearhart accounting for 10. W&J connected on 67.5 percent of its attempts as they rolled up 62 points in the second half.
W&J trailed for the vast majority of the first half before a late run gave the visitors a 49-45 edge at halftime. Geneva extended its first half lead to 10 (36-26) when Trevor Tipton converted a layup at the 7:13 mark. After a triple by Trevor Tipton made it 39-30 Geneva, the Presidents used a 12-3 run to even the score at 42-42 with just 2:21 to play before halftime. Gearhart sparked the run with the initial five points before Mitchell tacked on a three-point play at the 2:35 mark. Agbale sank a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining before half to give W&J the four-point edge.
The Presidents continued to hold the momentum in the early stages of the second half. W&J built a 59-47 lead following four consecutive points from Langston, which forced Geneva to take a timeout. The GT's continued to battle until the final buzzer. The home team used a run of its own to climb within three points (73-70) with 9:58 to go. However, the Presidents pushed its lead back into double figures (85-74) on a layup by Bigley at the 5:58 mark.
Bigley scored 14 of his 26 points over the final 5:58 of the game. A pair of free throws by Mitchell pushed W&J over the century mark with 1:07 to play. Geneva was led by Trevor Tipton and Lyle Tipton, who finished with 23 points apiece.
The Presidents finished with a whopping 80 points in the paint. W&J only attempted eight three-point field goals in the game.
W&J wraps up the regular season next week with three games. The Presidents travel to Bethany College for a game on Monday, Feb. 14. Tip off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
