WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team suffered a 66-61 setback to visiting Franciscan University of Steubenville in a Presidents' Athletic Conference play Wednesday evening at the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.

Playing without starters Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and Brandon Jakiela (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette), the Presidents shot just 32.9 percent from the field and made just 2-of-18 three-point attempts in the loss to the Barons. 

Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) posted 18 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) added seven points and five rebounds off the bench. Josh Chambers (Hanover, Md. / Indian Creek) tallied six points, eight rebounds and three steals. Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) notched a game-high five assists.

The two teams were tied up at 13-13 through 10 minutes of play. The visitors were able to pull and front and lead 20-17 after a jumper at the 7:22 mark. The Presidents countered with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes of play. A jumper by Chambers at the 6:38 mark and a three-pointer by J.R. Mazza (Bridgeport, W.Va./University) helped spark the surge that had W&J up 27-20 with 4:38 to play in the opening half.

Less than two minutes later, Nick Sukernek (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper St. Clair) drained a triple to make it 32-23 at the 3:02 mark. However, the Presidents went cold offensively and the Barons took advantage. Franciscan ended the half with six-straight points to close the deficit to a single possession at 32-29.

The cold spell spilled over into the second half for W&J. The Barons tacked on a 13-2 run over the first four-plus minutes coming out of halftime. A three by Franciscan gave the visitors a 42-34 lead at the 15:28 mark. W&J was forced to play from behind the rest of the way. Back-to-back baskets by Acosta followed by a Plotner field goal pulled W&J within two points (42-40) with 13:10 to play. That was as close as the Presidents could get as the Barons extended their lead to double digits when a three made it 58-48 with 4:11 left.

The Presidents closed within three points on three occasions in the final 1:32 but Franciscan sealed the deal at the free throw line. W&J misfired on all 10 attempts from beyond the three-point line in the second half.

The Barons were able to convert 43.9 percent of its field goals including 10-of-21 attempts from three-point range.

Josh Zimmerman led the Barons with 22 points and nine rebounds in the victory.

W&J (2-7 overall, 1-4 in PAC play) heads to Thiel College for a conference game on Monday, Dec. 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Greenville.