WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team (21-6) won its Presidents' Athletic Conference Semifinal matchup against Franciscan (21-6), 75-65.
 
The victory sends W&J to its second consecutive PAC Championship game and third in the past five years.
 
Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) carried the load for the Presidents with 22 points, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) (13), Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) (12) and Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) (10) all finished in double figures. Acosta finished with a double double, hauling in 10 rebounds on the night.
 
Franciscan got the scoring started with a three pointer on the first possession before the teams traded baskets and the Barons took an 11-6 lead into the first media timeout. The teams went scoreless for multiple minutes before a back-and-forth ended with a Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) step-back three to tie the game at 13 going into the second media timeout. The Presidents took their first lead of the game and pushed it to 14-13 with free throws.
 
The Barons tied the game multiple times over the next few minutes, and the score stood at 25-25 with 5:42 to go in the half. From there, W&J embarked on a 12-2 run, culminating in a Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) three to make the score 37-27 in favor of the Presidents, forcing a Franciscan timeout with 2:41 to go in the half. The remainder of the half was highlighted by a two-hand jam from Plotner at the 1:35 mark and W&J went into the break with the lead, 40-31.
 
The teams traded 6-0 runs to start the half before a Franciscan bucket cut made the score 46-39 in favor of W&J going into a timeout with 14:46 remaining in regulation. After two-and-a-half scoreless minutes, Seidl took the lid of the basket with a three. The triple gave the Presidents its first double-digit lead of the second half. The teams swapped scores going into the half's second media timeout with W&J ahead, 51-41.
 
The next four minutes were more back-and-forth action as the teams fought even to the next timeout with the Presidents holding a 57-47 advantage at the 7:53 mark. W&J extended the advantage to 12 with 6:01 remaining, their largest lead of the game. The Barons tightened things with a 9-4 run to make the score 69-63 with 1:24 to go. However, the Red & Black converted its offensive chances and a Plotner slam with 22 seconds left was the dagger. The game concluded with the final of 75-65 in favor of the Jaymen.
 
W&J men's basketball returns to Salvitti Family Gymnasium to host Westminster this Saturday (Feb. 28) for the PAC Tournament Championship. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.