LANCASTER, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team (0-1) was edged in their season opener against the Lancaster Bible Chargers (1-0), 92-88.
 
Five Presidents scored in double figures on the night. Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) led the way with a career-high 23 points, shooting 57.1% from the field and going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Guard Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) had 19 points, racking up seven rebounds and three assists as well.
 
Reigning Presidents' Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) had a game-high five blocks on the night. Plotner and Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) controlled the boards for W&J with eight rebounds each. Each of the Presidents' forwards were two rebounds off a double-double. Sophomore Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) led the game in steals with five total.  
 
W&J gained the first sizable advantage of the contest in the first seven minutes of play, growing a five-point lead off  made triple from Plasko. Carte drained a three to push the lead to seven before the Chargers battled back to knot the score at 19.
 
With three minutes remaining in the first half, Carte sunk another triple to grant the Presidents at 33-32 edge at the 3:02 mark. An and-one by Nick Sukernek (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) and splash from beyond the arc by Carte provided a needed boost prior to the end of the half. A last second foul in the opening half allowed the Presidents to take a 42-40 lead heading into halftime with a made free throw from Burlenski.
 
Through the opening 10 minutes of the second half, W&J managed the pace of the contest which allowed them to create a 14-point lead, 75-61. Plasko and the transition offense broke out in the beginning of the second half. The sophomore guard scored 12 points in the 10-minute span accompanied by eight points from Carte in the opening run.
 
By the seven-minute mark, Lancaster Bible managed to quickly erase the 14-point deficit and knot the score at 75. The Chargers completed an and-one with 35 seconds remaining to take a 90-87 lead. Missed free throws down the stretch haunted the Presidents in the final seconds as Lancaster Bible made two from the charity stripe close out the opener, 92-88.
 
Despite winning the rebound battle (37-35), the Presidents were limited by a 55.2% shooting percentage from the free throw line and a 30-12 differential in fast break points.
 
Men's Basketball returns to action on Monday (Nov. 10) for a 7:00 p.m. matchup with the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets.