GREENVILLE, Pa. - Despite leading by as many as 11 in the first half, the Thiel men's basketball team was unable to weather an early second half run by the Presidents of Washington and Jefferson College, who ran away with a 65-61 win Saturday.

Thiel (3-3, 1-1) took early control with a 10-2 run to open the contest, eight of which were scored by sophomore Luke Kochka (Monroeville, Pa. /Gateway). The Tomcats' lead grew to a game-high 11 points (28-17) after 13:08 of play. However, the Presidents (5-2, 2-0) responded with a 9-2 surge that cut the Tomcat advantage to just four points at 30-26 with 3:34 remaining in the first half.
 
Three minutes later, junior Eric Mallinger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice)'s layup extended Thiel's lead back to seven, 34-27. A Presidents' jumper before the buzzer at the half cut the Tomcat lead down to five, 34-29.

Washington and Jefferson completed their comeback with a 7-0 run to begin the second half, taking a 36-34 lead with 18 minutes to play. Thiel immediately answered with a three-pointer by sophomore Khari Bess (Waldorf, Md./Maurice J. Mcdonough), momentarily regaining the lead, 37-36.
 
The Blue and Gold stuck right with the Presidents down the stretch of the PAC showdown. With 3:12 left to play, junior Charlie Thomas (North Warren Pa./Warren Area)connected on a three-pointer that cut the W&J lead to 58-57. However, the collective hot hand of the Tomcats seemingly went cold at the worst time, as Thiel couldn't make baskets when they needed them most, as W&J held on for the win.
  
Kochka led a group of three Tomcats who scored in double-figures with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from the three-point line. Bess added 15 points, five rebounds and four steals, while Mallinger added his second-straight double-double, chipping in 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also registered a career-best six blocks.

Thiel returns to action after Christmas, as the Tomcats will take part in the College of Wooster's annual holiday tournament on Dec. 29.