WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team defeated the Grove City Wolverines in a down-to-the-wire offensive effort, 55-51.
 
The win elevates the Presidents record to 10-4 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play and 14-5 overall. The loss sits Grove City at 13-6 overall and 10-4 in conference play.
 
Junior guard Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) led the bout in scoring with 15 points. The North Hills product has averaged 20.3 points per game in the last three outings. Freshman Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) also joined Seidl in double figures with 11 points on the night. Sophomore Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) tied for a game-high in rebounding with nine total boards.
 
After a back-and-forth first half of play, the Presidents ended the first 20 minutes of regulation ahead 30-28. W&J showcased an evenly spread offensive effort as Plasko tallied seven points followed by Plotner and Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) who added six points each. Seidl tailed the pair of buckets with five points and Burlenski and Acosta contributed three points each.
 
Out of the break, the Presidents jumped out to a 7-2 scoring spree to open the final half of regulation. The run, sparked by a paint bucket from Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic), was capped by a triple from Seidl to put the Presidents up 37-30. With Grove City slowly chipping away at the W&J lead, Plasko preserved the Presidents' slim lead with a gritty fastbreak layup off the dish from Plotner to lift the lead to 46-43.
 
With the Wolverines knocking at the Presidents' one-point lead once again with 2:25 remaining in the half, Seidl began his takeover for the final minutes. The Presidents' guard logged the final six points of the matchup for W&J to seal the 55-51 victory, courtesy of a made layup and three free throws.
 
W&J held measurable advantages in points on the break (14-2), bench points (18-12) and points in the paint (28-24). The Presidents additionally held the turnover differential as the Wolverines turned the ball of 19 occasions to the Red & Black's 12.
 
The Presidents return to the Salvitti Family Gymnasium to cap their two-game homestand against the Bethany Bison, Saturday (Feb. 1). Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.