WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team (10-3, 3-1) got back on track in Presidents' Athletic Conference play with a 68-64 victory over the Geneva Golden Tornadoes (6-7, 3-1).
 
Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) led the team to victory with a game-high 21 points and four steals. Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) posted a 10-point performance and Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) scored nine points while hauling in eight rebounds.
 
Geneva opened the contest with a controlling pace, growing an early 19-10 lead off a 9-0 run. A Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) triple snapped the scoring run for the Golden Tornadoes and propelled the Presidents to score seven consecutive points, 19-17. A fastbreak layup made by Plasko gave W&J its first lead of the game with 6:33 remaining in the opening half, 27-25. A made putback by Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and five points from Plasko helped put the Presidents ahead 34-27.
 
A split trip to the free throw line for Acosta and a fastbreak layup made by Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) gave W&J a 37-31 lead at the half. The Presidents six made three pointers to the Golden Tornadoes one was the difference in scoring through the first half of play. W&J also controlled the break after the opening minutes of play, controlling the turnover battle (10-4) and points on the break (32-6).
 
Acosta opened the second half of play with a layup in the paint to give the Presidents an eight-point lead. The lead eventually ballooned to an 11-point advantage for the Presidents off two made free throws from the charity stripe by Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South). Geneva flipped the momentum quickly, gaining their first lead since the first half off a 12-0 run, 52-51. A Seidl triple briefly silenced Geneva before growing a five-point differential at the 7:29 mark.
 
W&J sprung into action, creating a run of their own off the backs of Plasko and Seidl. Plotner capped the run with an emphatic dunk to put the Presidents up 65-59 with 3:25 remaining. Geneva chipped the W&J advantage to one with over a minute to play. Free throws from Seidl and Acosta ensured the Presidents' victory, 68-64.
 
The Presidents held strong advantages in fast break points (32-6), points off turnovers (22-10) and bench points (18-11). Despite losing the rebounding battle (41-31), the Red & Black made up for it by handling the possession game by creating 18 Geneva turnovers.
 
The men's basketball team continues its conference slate with a trip down I-79 for a battle with the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets. Tipoff on Wednesday (Jan. 14) is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start.