WASHINGTON, Pa. -- J.R. Mazza (Bridgeport, W.Va./University) poured in a game-high 21 points and knocked down five three-pointers to lead top-seeded Washington & Jefferson to a 66-61 victory over fifth-seeded Waynesburg University in the semifinal round in the 2021-22 Presidents' Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. 

W&J advances to face second-seeded Chatham University at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC Championship game at Salvitti Family Gymnasium. Saturday will mark the first PAC title game that W&J has hosted since the 2006-07 season. Chatham defeated third-seeded Westminster by a 72-62 score in Thursday's other semifinal. 

The Presidents beat the Yellow Jackets for a third time in as many tries in 2021-22. All three games were played at a pace that favored the Yellow Jackets. However, for a third time this season, Waynesburg came up short. Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) was hampered with foul trouble throughout the night and was held scoreless. It didn't matter as W&J was able to beat Waynesburg at its own game --- defense. 

Waynesburg gained an early lead after tallying five unanswered points. W&J countered with nine straight points, as a three-pointer by Mazza and a layup by Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) gave the Presidents its first lead at 9-5.

The teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes before a layup by John Tastinger gave Waynesburg a 15-14 advantage at the 10:34 mark. W&J held Waynesburg scoreless for nearly six minutes to take a double-digit lead (27-15) with 4:53 to play before halftime. Gearhart accounted for the final seven points during a 13-0 run for W&J. 

Three-point field goals inside the final minute of the first half by Bigley and Mazza allowed W&J to take a 38-27 lead into halftime. 

W&J took its biggest lead of the game when Mazza converted a layup less than two minutes into the second half. However, the visiting Yellow Jackets chipped away at the Presidents' 13-point lead from there. Four consecutive points by Bryson Wilt gave Waynesburg a 49-47 lead with 10:51 to play. Okikiola Agbale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) had the answer on the other end, as the senior converted an old-fashioned three-point play to help W&J reclaim the lead. Following a defensive stop, Mazza drained a triple to extend the lead to four (53-49) at the 10:07 mark. 

A layup by Isaiah Langston (Coraopolis, Pa./Cornell) gave W&J a 60-55 lead with 6:27 to play. Both teams went cold offensively over the next several minutes, as neither team made a field goal for nearly five minutes. Gearhart stretched the W&J lead to six points (62-56) with a driving layup with 1:43 left. W&J was able to do what it needed to do down the stretch to nail down the victory. 

Gearhart just narrowly missed his second double-double of the season. He finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Bigley joined Mazza and Gearhart in double figures, as he tallied 10 points. Jake Scheidt led Waynesburg with 19 points. 

W&J will be aiming for its 10th PAC title with a win Saturday. The Presidents have not won a conference crown since the 1994-95 season. That was the last of four consecutive PAC titles by the Red and Black.