WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team ran its winning streak to nine games with a 77-55 victory over visiting Grove City in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.

The win secured the top seed in the upcoming PAC Tournament for the Presidents, who finish the regular season at 16-2 in league play and 21-4 overall. The loss drops the Wolverines to 5-12 in conference play and 9-15 overall. The victory gave W&J a sweep of the regular season series with Grove City. The Red and Black won by a 79-76 score back on Jan. 15. 

Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler), Alexander Skowron (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) and Jacob Davenport (Camberley, England/Charnwood College) were honored for their dedication and service to the program prior to the Senior Day contest. 

Three Presidents scored in double figures. Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) notched his 11th double-double of the season with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Wolverines. Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) registered 17 points while Skowron put up 10 points off the bench for the Red & Black. 

The majority of the first half was played at a methodical pace, as the visiting Wolverines were able to slow the game down. The two teams found themselves deadlocked at 14-14 with just 7:57 to play until halftime. A layup by Dirk Daniels (Phillipsburg, N.J./Blair Academy) at the 6:55 mark would help W&J grab a lead it would never relinquish. 

A three-point play by Mitchell and a layup by Beckett Connelly (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) stretched the lead to six (24-18) with 3:54 to go first half. W&J continued to add to its lead, as Gearhart tallied the final four W&J points of the half to help the hosts take a 34-20 advantage into the locker room. 

The Presidents used a 12-2 run to strengthen its lead to 56-32 with 10:22 remaining.Skowron scored eight of his 10 points in the span of three minutes to give W&J a 71-47 advantage with four minutes to play. 

Ben Rose led Grove City with 12 points, seven rebounds and the game-high four steals. 

The Red & Black held a significant advantage at the free throw line. W&J converted 21-of-25 attempts from the charity stripe while Grove City made four-of-seven attempts. The Wolverines also converted just one three-point field goal in 11 tries. Grove City committed 20 turnovers to just 10 for W&J. 

W&J will host an opponent to be determined in the PAC Quarterfinals at Salvitti Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 22 at 8 p.m. The game will follow the W&J's women's quarterfinal contest.