WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team couldn't sustain a 14-point halftime lead and dropped an 85-70 decision to Waynesburg University on Saturday afternoon at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.

The loss drops the Presidents to 8-6 overall and 3-3 in league action. Waynesburg moves to 2-3 in PAC play and 2-13 overall.

A layup by sophomore Alexander Skowron (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) gave the Presidents a 22-20 advantage midway through the first half. The two teams continued to exchange points as a layup by senior guard Jonathan DeVito (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) evened the score at 27-27 with 6:20 to play in the opening frame.

After a pair of free throws gave the host Yellow Jackets a 32-29 edge at the 5:01 mark, the Presidents used an 18-1 surge to take a 47-33 advantage into halftime. Junior guard Zach Queen (Jeannette, Pa./Hempfield) opened the run with a triple to tie the score at 32-32.

Primo Zini (Morgantown, W.Va./Trinity Christian) and DeVito added back-to-back layups to give W&J a four-point edge. Skowron then added back-to-back field goals to push the lead to eight points. Zini beat the first half buzzer with a layup to extend the lead to 14.

The Presidents converted on 18-of-32 field goal attempts in the first half, converting at a 56.3 percent clip. W&J hit on 6-of-12 attempts (50 percent) from beyond the arc. W&J had a balanced attack over the first 20 minutes, as four players scored in double figures in their second best shooting half of the season.

Things went south offensively for the Presidents in the second half, as the Red and Black connected on just 5-of-27 field goal attempts, converting only 18.5 percent of its shots. W&J managed to connect on just one three-point attempt in 12 tries after the break. Meanwhile, Waynesburg converted 18-of-27 shots in the second half to surge into the lead and pick up the conference victory.

DeVito finished with 19 points, just two shy of matching his career-high. The senior made 7-of-13 field goal attempts. He also added a game-best five steals and added four assists. Queen finished with 14 points, while Skowron added 14 and Zini chipped in 13 markers.

Sophomore forward Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) and freshman Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) brought down eight rebounds apiece in the loss.

Ryan Felberg and Frank Bozicevic both posted season highs for Waynesburg with 22 points and 21 points, respectively.  

W&J steps out of conference play to host Carlow University at Salvitti Family Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The Presidents and Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m.