BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team picked up a midweek road victory over the Geneva Golden Tornadoes, 89-77.
 
The Presidents elevate their record to 16-5 overall on the season while lifting to a 12-4 record in Presidents' Athletic Conference play. The defending PAC Champions, Geneva, fall to 9-11 overall and 7-8 in conference contests. The win coupled with a Saint Vincent loss on Wednesday moves the Presidents a half game ahead of the Bearcats in the battle for second place in the league standings. 
 
Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) and Matthew Carte(Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) headed the team's scoring efforts on the night with 17 points each. Both recorded five rebounds while Carte contributed five assists. Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) dropped 14 points in the outing matched with a game-high eight rebounds. Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) also added 13 points into the fold with five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
 
Freshmen Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) and Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) also found their way to double-figure points with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
A back-and-forth start for both units created minimal stability for each unit until Geneva grew a mere three-point lead at the 13:21 mark. Burlenski equalized the lead with a made triple off the dish from Seidl to settle the score at 17. The made three triggered a brief scoring run as Michael Plasko (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and Seidl each made field goals to give the Presidents a 22-17 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the opening half.
 
The Presidents and Golden Tornadoes soon reverted back to trading lead changes as the first half came to a close until W&J closed out the half with the final three scores. Five points from Carte and a made layup by Acosta gave the Presidents a 48-43 lead heading into the half.
 
Out of the break, W&J ripped off six quick points to open the new period of play off the hands of Acosta and Plotner. A made three pointer by Seidl and dunk by Rowell pushed the lead to 13 with 13:38 remaining in regulation. The Golden Tornadoes second wind kicked in, bringing the Presidents' lead to within one score twice down the stretch. Despite the late push from the opposition, W&J drained 11 free throws within the final three minutes to secure the 89-77 victory over Geneva.
 
W&J capitalized in transition holding sizable advantages in points off of turnovers (22-6), points on the break (21-2) and paint points (46-30). The Presidents also won the turnover battle, turning the ball over six times to Geneva's 16 turnovers.
 
Men's hoops returns to action in Latrobe, Pa. to take on the Saint Vincent Bearcats, Saturday (Feb. 8). The road contest is set to tipoff at 6:00 p.m. The Presidents and Bearcats currently occupy the second and third spots in the PAC standings.