Washington & Jefferson (14-5, 7-3) vs. Franciscan (15-4, 7-3)
 
When: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Where: Washington, Pa.
Court: Salvitti Family Gymnasium
Time: 5:30 P.M.

Gameday Coverage - Follow Live: Live Video | Live Stats
For more information view the FULL .PDF VERSION

THE SERIES: Washington & Jefferson and Franciscan meet for the 16th time in history and the 12th time since Franciscan joined the Presidents' Athletic Conference in 2020. W&J holds a five-game win streak in the series. In the time the programs have been conference rivals, W&J holds a 10-1 advantage, including a win 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 contests. 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 this season. He currently ranks eighth in the division with 56 blocks. The big man's block total is 26 blocks higher than the second-highest total in the PAC. The junior also ranks 27th in Division III with 50 steals. Plotner leads the Presidents in scoring with an average of 15.2 points per game. Against Grove City on Saturday the junior scored 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half, leading the Presidents comeback win in the second frame.
 
THE FIRST MEETING: W&J and Franciscan faced off earlier this season on December 6, 2025. The Barons were able to work with an early lead, which was built up to 12 with a 39-27 advantage late in the first half. However, the Presidents ended the half on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to four at the break.
 
The Presidents continued the run in the second half and took their first lead of the game before the teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half. Neither team held a lead larger than four in the second half.
 
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.
 
ACOSTA APPROACHING: After a junior season that included time lost to injury, senior forward Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) has been a model of consistency for the Presidents. The 2023-24 All-PAC First Team selection averages 12.1 points per game at a 58.1% clip from the field. Acosta stands at 988 career points and looks to become the 28th player in program history to score 1,000 points.
 
SCOUTING THE BARONS: Franciscan has built up an impressive 15-4 record this season led by its 81.2 scoring average, which ranks second in the PAC. The Barons are led by one of the nation's leading scorers, Sawyer Butler. The junior ranks 15th in Division III with 23.6 points per contest. Alongside Butler, junior forward Zach Oliver averages 12.5 points and a league-leading 8.2 rebounds.
 
I'LL TAKE THAT: The Presidents have kept their identity of swarming full-court defense intact. W&J has forced 20.21 turnovers per game and holds an average turnover margin of +6.5, ranking 10th and 12th in each respective statistic.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: W&J has been dominant at home during the last five seasons. The Presidents hold a 44-14 record in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium over the last five seasons.
 
PAC PICTURE: The Presidents stand in a three-way tie in second place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference South division, along with Saint Vincent and Franciscan. The trio of teams all sit one game behind Chatham for the division lead. W&J stands as the only team of the three that has defeated the Chatham, with the Presidents splitting the season series with the Cougars.  The Presidents are three games clear of the teams tied for fifth at 3-7 and are in clear position to claim one of the division's four PAC Tournament berths. Westminster holds a commanding three game advantage over the rest of the field in the North division.
 
W&J VS. THE PAC:
Team                                 Record (Pct.)
Allegheny                        60-46 (.566)
Bethany                           108-89 (.548)
Chatham                         12-13 (.480)
Franciscan                     12-3 (.800)
Geneva                            44-47 (.484)
Grove City                       67-72 (.482)
Hiram                                24-24 (.500)
Saint Vincent                 33-44 (.429)
Thiel                                   97-47 (.674)
Waynesburg                   68-58 (.540)
Westminster                  41-62 (.398)
Total                                  566-505 (.528)
 
PAC LEADERS: Listed below are statistics which have Presidents ranked in the top 10 of the PAC (all statistics and rankings as of the morning of January 9, 2026):
 
- Points Per Game: (15.2) Plotner (10th)
- Rebounds Per Game: (7.0) Plotner (6th), (6.5) Acosta (9th)
- Field Goal Percentage: (.591) Plotner (1st)
- Blocks: (56) Plotner (1st), (18) Acosta (t-9th)
- Blocks Per Game: (2.9) Plotner (1st), (0.9) Acosta (t-9th)
- Steals: (50) Plotner (2nd), (38) Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) (6th), (37) Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) (t-7th)
- Steals Per Game: (2.6) Plotner (2nd), (2.4) Rowell (4th), (1.9) Seidl (8th)
- Minutes Per Game: (33.5) Siedl (4th), (32.3) Plotner (9th)
 
* All statistics through February 2, 2026