WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington and Jefferson men's basketball team logged a high-scoring victory in a midweek competition over the Allegheny Gators, 90-68.
The victory lifts the Presidents to a 17-6 overall record and 13-5 in Presidents Athletic Conference play.
Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) paced the Presidents with 20 points in the Wednesday night contest.
Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) registered his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Plotner also added a game-high three blocks.
Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) added 16 points to the team total while
Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and
Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) rounded out the Presidents in double figures tallying 10 points each. Seidl also dished out a team high six assists.
The Presidents opened the game with an efficient 14-4 run to jump out to a ten-point lead. Down the stretch, a triple by
Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) followed by two back-to-back from Carte extended W&J to their largest lead yet, 30-13. On three consecutive possessions, Seidl facilitated three successful triples from Plasko and Carte to bolster the run. Allegheny was able to chip away at the lead, but the Red & Black exited the first half ahead 50-38.
Out of the break W&J scored first, firing off a 14-2 run to further skew the score in favor of the Presidents. Another triple made from Carte and gritty layup by Rowell sparked the early run to open the half. With shades of their freshman seasons, Carte and Plotner connected on an alley-oop dunk to push the Presidents lead to 28 with 5:58 remaining. From there the Presidents were able to ride the early lead and coast to a 90-68 victory over the visiting Gators.
The Presidents led the Gators in second chance points (9-2), points in the paint (44-28) and fast break points (14-10).
W&J remains home to host Waynesburg for their Senior Recognition game in Salvitti Family Gymnasium, Saturday (Feb. 15). The weekend contest is set to get underway at 3:00 p.m.
