WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team used a strong first half to overcome conference opponent Waynesburg by a 75-61 score Saturday afternoon on the road.
 
The Presidents improve to 11-4 on the year and 7-3 in conference play while the Yellow Jackets drop to 6-8 overall and 4-5 in PAC play.
 
Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) led W&J in scoring with 17 points, shooting 8-for-16 from the field. Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) and Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) each dropped 16 and 13 points respectively. Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) and Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) also finished in double figures with 10 points each.
 
Seidl registered a game high three blocks while Plotner compiled a game high 11 rebounds to complete his fifth double-double of the season. Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and Plotner tied for the team high in assists with three each.
 
With both teams off to a slow start, W&J was the first to heat up slowly accruing the first 10 points of the game. Waynesburg broke into the scoring column at the 13:15 minute mark on a made jumper, 10-2. Despite the Yellow Jackets settling into an offensive groove, the Presidents were already pushing ahead full steam and maintained a 10 point or more lead for most of the first half. Waynesburg was able to cut the gap to six points with a little over five minutes left.
 
A 16-5 surge from the Presidents sparked by an old-fashioned three-point play, converted by Acosta at the line, closed out the first half with a score of 43-26 in favor of W&J.
 
Both teams traded points to begin the second half until W&J pulled away and logged their greatest lead of the game, up 63-34 with 11:32 left in the game.
 
Waynesburg attempted a late push, but the Presidents' early lead proved to be too much as the Yellow Jackets ended the game down 14 with a final score of 75-61.
 
Turnovers played a key role in the Presidents success as they scored 32 points off turnovers and had 20 points off fastbreaks throughout the game. Defense also factored into their victorious efforts as the Presidents were able to raid the paint offensively to tally 52 points while limiting Waynesburg to 22 points scored down low.
 
The team will return home next to host the Franciscan Barons on Wednesday (Jan. 15). Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m. in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.