Washington & Jefferson (19-6, 12-4) vs. Franciscan (21-5, 12-4)
 
When: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Where: Washington, Pa.
Court: Salvitti Family Gymnasium
Time: 8:00 P.M.

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THE SERIES: Washington & Jefferson and Franciscan meet for the 17th time in history and the 13th time since Franciscan joined the Presidents' Athletic Conference in 2020. W&J holds a six-game win streak in the series. In the time the programs have been conference rivals, W&J holds a 11-1 advantage, including two wins this season and three last season. The only Barons win over W&J in that time came in December 2023, when Franciscan won 66-61 in Washington. The teams played as nonconference opponents four times, with the teams splitting the clashes. W&J won the first ever matchup between the squads 75-72 in 2013 in Washington.
 
THE PLOT THICKENS: Junior forward Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) has been one of the premier defenders in Division III over the last two seasons. The 2024-25 PAC Defensive Player of the Year is looking to repeat those honors as the best statistical defender in the league. The junior is tied for ninth in the division with 66 blocks. The big man's block total is 26 blocks greater than the second-highest total in the PAC. Plotner also ranks 50th in Division III with 57 steals and leads the Presidents in scoring with an average of 14 points per game.
 
EARLIER MATCHUPS: W&J and Franciscan faced off twice this season on December 6, 2025, when W&J won 86-82 in overtime, and on February 4, when the Presidents claimed an 81-77 win.
 
In the first game the Barons were able to work with an early lead, which was built up to 12 with a 39-35 advantage at the first half. The Presidents went on a run early in the second half, and the teams were all square at 72 heading into an overtime period. Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) was able to drain a three, the first of the game for W&J, to give the team a lead which held the rest of the way. The teams traded free throws at the end, and the Presidents closed out an 86-82 win. W&J was led to victory by Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb), who scored 30 to lead all scorers.
 
The second game saw the Barons once again jump in front and after a basket at the 18:04 mark, they led all the way until the Presidents took their first lead with 10:34 to go in the first half. W&J controlled the frame from there, going into halftime with a 49-38 advantage. Despite multiple double-digit deficits early in the second, Franciscan clawed back to tie the game at 66, before W&J reclaimed the lead which they would hold the rest of the way. Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) drained his free throws at the end to seal the game at 81-77.
 
PAC PICTURE: The PAC Tournament Semifinals will have the north's top seed, Westminster, hosting the south's second seed, Chatham. A key storyline behind that game is that Westminster is led by head coach David Richards who led Chatham to two PAC championships, including last season's title in 2025.
 
In the south, top overall seed W&J will host the south's three seed, Franciscan. The Presidents beat Franciscan both times in the regular season but will have to defeat the Barons a third time to get to the program's third championship game in the past five seasons.
 
GETTING HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME: Senior guard Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) bounced back from a slow start to the season in the points department and has averaged 12.7 points per game since the calendars flipped compared to 10.4 beforehand. The 2024-25 PAC All-Tournament Team honoree poured in 10 points in the quarterfinal matchup, despite playing only 27 minutes.
 
I'LL TAKE THAT: The Presidents have kept their identity of swarming full-court defense intact. W&J has forced 19.65 turnovers per game and holds an average turnover margin of +6.2, ranking 10th and 11th in each respective statistic.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: W&J has been dominant at home during the last five seasons. The Presidents hold a 49-14 record in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium over the last five seasons.
 
W&J VS. THE PAC:
Team                               Record (Pct.)
Allegheny                        60-46 (.566)
Bethany                           109-89 (.551)
Chatham                         12-13 (.480)
Franciscan                     13-3 (.813)
Geneva                            45-47 (.489)
Grove City                       67-72 (.482)
Hiram                                24-24 (.500)
Saint Vincent                 33-45 (.423)
Thiel                                   98-47 (.676)
Waynesburg                   69-58 (.543)
Westminster                  42-62 (.404)
Total                              572-506 (.531)
 
PAC LEADERS: Listed below are statistics which have Presidents ranked in the top 10 of the PAC:
 
- Rebounds Per Game: (6.8) Acosta (7th), (6.7) Plotner (9th)
- Field Goal Percentage: (.599) Plotner (1st)
- Assists Per Game: (2.9) Carte (9th)
- Blocks: (66) Plotner (1st), (22) Acosta (t-10th)
- Blocks Per Game: (2.5) Plotner (1st),(0.9) Acosta (t-10th)
- Steals: (57) Plotner (3rd), (55) Siedl (4th), (48) Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) (t-7th), (41) Burlenski (t-10th)
- Minutes Per Game: (32.2) Siedl (9th)
 
* All statistics and rankings through February 24, 2026