TIFFIN, Ohio – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team (0-2) dropped their opening game of the Ron Linhart Memorial Classic to host Heidelberg (2-0), 71-65. The game was a battle of two tournament teams from a season ago as both units made the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26.
Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) achieved a career milestone against the Student Princes, surpassing 1,000 career points. Plotner scored 12 points to become the 29
th player in program history to reach the milestone. Plotner also finished with a double-double hauling in 13 rebounds.
Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) led the team in scoring with 19 points along with eight rebounds and four assists.
Julian Semplice (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) scored 12 points in his second game as a President.
Heidelberg got out to a 7-0 start over W&J.
Parker Schramm (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) drilled a triple off a dish from
Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) to put the Presidents on the board. Plotner and
Nick Sukernek (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) brought the opposition's lead to within four before the Student Princes enlarged their advantage to 22-8 off a 10-point run. A jumper from Carte snapped the run, before Heidelberg entered another scoring spree.
Carte and Semplice helped W&J reduce the lead to 35-25 prior to halftime. Despite winning the turnover battle in the first half, Heidelberg's 46.7% mark from the floor propelled the Student Princes to their halftime double figure lead.
Heidelberg grew their lead to 42-26 before the Presidents trimmed the lead to seven off a Plotner layup with 13 minutes remaining. The lead expanded the double figures briefly before being returned to eight following a Burlenski triple. Plotner scored his 1,001st career point at the 11:14 mark of the second half off a dish from Burlenski to reduce the lead to 49-43.
Sukernek drained a three pointer with 6:20 remaining to tie the game for the first time since the opening half, 56-56. The Student Princes responded with a three of their own that sparked a 10-point swing, 66-56. W&J managed to reduce the lead to six off a Semplice layup in the final minute of play but ultimately ran out of time to complete a comeback, 71-65.
Despite edging Heidelberg in the rebounding (42-41) and turnovers (11-12), W&J was outscored in the paint, 34-22. The Student Princes also led in fast break points (11-5), points off of turnovers (13-10) and bench points (9-7).
The Presidents continue action at the Ron Linhart Memorial Classic against Albion on Saturday (Nov. 14). Tipoff is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start.
