PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team expunged another halftime deficit to take an 84-78 road victory Wednesday evening over the host Chatham Cougars at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

The win improves the Presidents to 11-3 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play and 14-5 overall. The victory helps W&J maintain a tie for first place in the PAC with Allegheny following their 99-74 win over Geneva. Chatham falls to 9-4 in the PAC and 10-8 overall on the season.

Freshman guard Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) was the highlight of the night for the Presidents as the North Hills product dropped a season-high 33 points, topping his previous high of 32 which came against Thiel earlier on in the season. Seidl shot 66.7% from the field, 71% from beyond the arc, and added four rebounds to his impressive night.

In the first half Chatham got out to an early lead nailing some early shots from three, starting the game with a 6-0 lead. W&J responded with some productive offensive drives but ultimately couldn't top the Cougars until the 11 minute mark when Beckett Connelly (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver) hit a crucial jumper to take the first Presidents lead of the bout. The remainder of the half was littered with lead changes by both units until the Cougars erased a seven-point lead to maintain a 45-41 score at the end of the half.

Entering the second half, the Presidents found there way back into the game within the first five minutes of the new half after a some made shots from Seidl and a sleek jumper made by Michael Bigley (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Seton LaSalle) as they again evened the score at 53. Shortly after Seidl would continue his offensive onslaught as he gave the Presidents a quick five-point lead, 60-55. As the game came down to the wire each team again would continue to go back and forward trading minor leads until the Presidents finally hung on in the final minute as they clung to a two possession lead sparked by a J.R. Mazza (Bridgeport, W.Va. / University) quick draw three and made free throws from the charity stripe by the Presidents.

Seidl led the Presidents with 33 points on the night followed up by Mazza, Bigley, Brandon Jakiela (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette) who each hit double figures. Mazza and Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) each finished with six rebounds a piece while Gearhart and Dirk Daniels (Phillipsburg, N.J. / Blair Academy) each contributed two blocks and steals.

W&J and Chatham were relatively even in the differentials in the stat sheet tonight but led in the points off of turnovers category (18-13) turnovers only turning the ball over 13 times to Chatham's 17.

W&J travels to Saint Vincent on Saturday, Jan. 28. Start time is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Latrobe, Pa. The Presidents won their last meeting this season with an overtime victory of 100-93 at Salvitti Gymnasium on Dec. 3.