WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team outlasted the visiting Westminster Titans in their first home Presidents' Athletic Conference matchup Saturday night in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
In a down to the wire contest, the Presidents prevailed in a close 69-67 victory that extends their win streak to three consecutive games. The win improves the team to a 4-1 overall record with an undefeated 2-0 mark in conference play. Westminster drops to 2-3 overall and is delt their first PAC loss, 0-1.
The game began with a 12-0 run from the visiting Titans before the Red & Black were able to find the scoring column. Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) put up the first points for W&J followed by Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) who both seized extra point opportunities with an old fashioned three point play to cut the offensive drought and the deficit to 16-6.
The Titans scored two consecutive layups off a fastbreak and a steal that gained them another 12-point advantage at the 10:02 mark, up 28-16. A good tip-in by Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg) following the two layups sparked a 16-3 run to gain the lead on a driving layup from Plasko to give W&J their first lead of the game, 32-21 with 3:21 left in the first half.
Westminster sunk two free throws to gain the lead once more before good buckets from Plotner, Acosta and a free throw from Josh Chambers (Hanover, Md./Indian Creek) ended the half with the Presidents up 36-33.
Shortly into the second half Westminster secured a glimpse of a lead five minutes in before W&J shut them down and held the lead for the rest of the game. The final 15 minutes were in close contest as W&J's lead never extended to more than a seven-point deficit.
With 1:40 left in play, the Presidents held just a two-point lead over Titans. In the final seconds of play, freshman Quinton Burlenski all but sealed the deal by sinking two free throws to push W&J to a four-point lead, 69-65. Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) blocked a three-point attempt with a second on the clock to seal the win for the Presidents. The Titans were only able to make a two-point jumper in the paint in the final second to set the final score, 69-67.
Acosta led the team offensively, tying for the game-high 18 points. Joining Acosta in double digits and tallying a double-double is Plotner who scored 14 points and secured 11 rebounds. The double-double marks the sophomores third of the season in five games thus far. Joining the two team giants in double figures is sophomore guard Seidl who recorded 13 points.
Following Plotners' 11 rebounds, teammates Acosta, Seidl and Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) all logged six rebounds apiece for the Red & Black.
The Presidents remain home as they host the Chatham Cougars this Tuesday (Nov. 26) in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium for their third conference matchup. The bout is scheduled for a tipoff of 8:00 p.m.
