MARIETTA, Ohio -- Sophomore guard Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) willed the Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team to a 75-61 victory over Kenyon College Saturday evening in play at the Marietta College Shrine Tournament.
After dropping two non-conference road losses to start the season, the Presidents picked up an important win over the Owls behind Seidl's career-high 36-point effort. Seidl drained 13-of-24 field goal attempts including 6-of-10 three-point attempts. Seidl added four rebounds and three steals while playing all 40 minutes.
The first half was back and forth between the two teams until about the eight-minute mark when the Presidents were able to gain some separation. W&J was able to build a double-digit advantage when Seidl recorded the final five points of the half to push the Red and Black to a 41-30 lead at the break.
The Red & Black would claim the first bucket of the half widening their lead to 13 points. The Owls then chipped away at the President's lead over the next five minutes until they were within four points.
W&J didn't allow them to stay close for long as Seidl sunk a three-pointer accompanied by a layup by fellow sophomore Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga. / North Cobb) to push the gap back up to nine. Kenyon would collect a free throw to put the deficit back at eight with a little less than 14 minutes left in the half.
Seidl would go on to produce 15 more points throughout the half accompanied by five points from Acosta, four points from Isaiah Langston (Coraopolis, Pa. / Cornell) and two from Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) to add 26 points to the Presidents total tally. Four-straight points by Seidl made it 67-52 Presidents with 4:30 to play. W&J would lead by at least eight points for the remainder of the game.
W&J controlled points in the paint outscoring Kenyon 42-30. The Presidents forced Kenyon to commit 18 turnovers Saturday.
Acosta finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. Both totals are career-bests for Acosta.
Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) recorded the team high in blocks with three in tonight's contest. Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va. / Ravenswood) provided the team-high four assists.
For his efforts in the win Saturday, Seidl earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
W&J opens Presidents' Athletic Conference play at home against Westminster College on Wednesday Nov. 15. Start time is set for 8 p.m. in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
