MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Despite battling back from a 16-point halftime deficit, the Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team were unable to finish off its attempt at a comeback victory and fell to host Allegheny by a 87-81 margin in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game Saturday evening.

The loss drops the Presidents to 5-3 in league play and 9-4 overall. The win improves the Gators to 2-5 in the PAC and 4-8 overall.

Down 50-34 after the first half, the Presidents used a 26-10 run in the first ten minute of the second half to tie the score for the first time in the game, 60-60.

The run was highlighted by 11 points from Seidl, seven points from sophomore guard Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood), three points from Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and five points from Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South). A dunk by Plotner evened the score at 60-60 with 10:18 to play in the second half. 

Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) followed the Plotner dunk with a made three-pointer and a layup on the next two W&J possessions to give the Red & Black a 65-62 lead.

Allegheny answered with five straight points to regain the advantage. A good basket beyond the arc from Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) set the Presidents ahead 68-67 before the Gators answered with eight straight points to regain the lead for good. W&J pulled within two (79-77) with a pair of free throws by Plasko at the 2:38 mark. The Presidents turned it over on its next possession and never got a chance to even the score the rest of the game. 

Plasko led the Presidents with a team-best 20 points. Plotner (17), Seidl (13) and Burlenski (13) also reached double digits in scoring. Plotner, Seidl and Carte all tallied four assists to lead the Presidents. Plotner paced W&J with seven rebounds and a career-high six steals on the evening.

W&J will host Thiel for a conference game on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tip off at Salvitti Gym is set for 8:00 p.m.