WASHINGTON, Pa. -- J.R. Mazza (Bridgeport, W.VA./University) recorded a game-high 27 points and drained eight three-point field goals to break the single-season record for made threes as the Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team used a strong second half to pick up a 96-74 victory over Bethany Monday evening in West Virginia. 

Mazza scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half. The sophomore guard led the Presidents with 27 points. He currently has 82 made three-point field goals in 2021-20. His efforts tonights helped him surpass Zach Queen's mark of 80 made three-point field goals in the 2018-19 season. Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) posted his third triple-double and 10th double-double of the season. Mitchell posted a career-high 19 rebounds and a career-high 13 assists to go along with his 12 points and five steals. Mitchell is one of only two players in NCAA Basketball to have three or more triple-doubles this season. 

The win, which is the seventh straight, improves W&J to 19-4 overall and 14-2 in conference play. The loss drops Bethany to 2-16 overall and 2-11 in the league. The win assures W&J will finish as either the No. 1 or No. 2 spot in the PAC Standings as next week's PAC Championship Tournament approaches. 

Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) finished with 21 points. Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) continued his strong play of late, as the senior added 10 points off the bench for the Red & Black. 

It was a slow start for two fast-paced teams as the first basket was not scored until two minutes into the game after Mitchell drew a foul and made the two free throws. The Bison took advantage of the Presidents slow start and used eight unanswered points to take an early lead over W&J. Six of Bethany's points came from back-to-back threes from Asa Klimchock. 

Agbale was able to stop the four minute scoring drought for the Presidents with a basket that opened up a 10-0 run for the Presidents. Mazza's first three-pointer of the night opened the lead to four with 12:40 remaining in the first half. The Presidents remained with the lead for the rest of the first half. A layup by Isaiah Langston (Coraopolis, Pa./Cornell) extended the lead into double digits (22-12) with 8:28 to play in the opening half. The lead reached as many as 14 points twice before Bethany closed the half 19-8 run to trim the deficit to 40-37. 

Bethany would tie the game in the early stages of the second half before W&J took control. Trailing 56-53 at the 12:15 mark, the Presidents embarked on a 13-0 run to take the lead and momentum from the Bison. Agbale and Mazza combined to score 11 of the 13 points during the game-deciding run. A little later, a jumper by Agbale gave W&J a 70-59 advantage with 8:14 to play in the game. 

The lead stretched to 20 points (91-71) at the 2:38 mark when Mazza drained a three and followed with a fastbreak layup. A three-pointer from Jacob Davenport (Camberley, England/Charnwood College) with 1:08 to play closed the scoring at 96-74. 

Asa Klimchock led the Bison with 18 points and five made three-pointers. 

W&J held advantages in points off turnovers (23-9), second chance points (21-6), points in the paint (46-32) and rebounding (48-34). 

W&J travels to Chatham on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. The teams enter the contest in a deadlock for first place in the PAC. A win for the Cougars would clinch the top seed in next week's PAC Tournament. Wins in its final two regular season games would give W&J the top seed.