PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A valiant comeback attempt fell short Wednesday evening as the Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team suffered a 92-90 loss to the host Chatham Cougars in a Presidents' Athletic Conference bout. A goaltending call at the buzzer gave the Cougars the game-winning points to secure the season sweep of the series.
The loss puts the Presidents record at 8-4 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play and 12-5 overall. The win boosts Chatham to 14-3 overall and 11-1 in conference play.
Matt Seidl (North Hills, Pa./North Hills) led the scoring for the Red & Black by pouring in a season-high 24 points. Seidl also tied for the team high in rebounds with seven boards while adding a steal and an assist. Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va. / Ravenswood) dropped 20 points, trailed closely by Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) who tallied 19 in the outing. Rounding out the scorers in double figures, freshman Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./ South Fayette) put up 14.
Alongside Seidl, Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) also pulled down seven boards in the bout to lead the team. Rowell was just behind them with six rebounds on the evening.
After a neck-and-neck first half the Presidents ended the first 20 minutes of play down 48-45.
After gaining their first lead of the second half on a turn around jump shot from Seidl, 51-50, the Cougars went on an 8-2 stretch to gain a 58-53 advantage over the Presidents. W&J used a well spread effort to take the lead with Plotner adding three points. Seidl, Plasko, Carte and Rowell all added a basket each as well to bring the Red & Black back to a 64-63 lead.
Both teams juggled the lead until the final seconds of the outing. Rowell sunk two free throws to tie the game for a final time with 19 seconds to go before Chatham gained the final lead change of the game on a buzzer beater to close out the 92-90 loss for W&J.
W&J held narrow leads in second chance points (14-10), points off turnovers (16-15), and fast break points (14-13).
The Red & Black travel next to New Wilmington, Pa. to face Westminster College on Saturday (Jan. 25) The bout is set to get underway at 3:00 p.m.