WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team (3-2) opened its regular season slate at home with a close loss to Carnegie Mellon (4-1), 76-70.
 
The Presidents were led by Matthew Carte (Ravenswood, W.Va./Ravenswood) offensively with a team-high 16 points. The junior shot 50% from the field (6-for-12) and had three rebounds and two steals. Alex Acosta (Acworth, Ga./North Cobb) scored 14 points on the night with five boards and four steals. Matt Seidl (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) wrapped the W&J scorers in double figures with 10 points and four assists.
 
W&J opened the first half with an 11-6 lead created by a Cameron Rowell (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) triple and layup by Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South). The Tartans flipped the script quickly on the Presidents, growing an 11-point lead with six minutes remaining in the opening half, 32-21.
 
Five points from Carte and a pair of free throws made by Seidl and Acosta helped reduce the Carnegie Mellon lead to seven, 40-33. Seidl made a turnaround jumper in the paint to enter the half, down 43-35.
 
The Presidents got off to a hot start out of the half, quickly chipping down the opposition's lead to three with 13 minutes remaining, 52-49. The Tartans briefly grew their advantage close to the double figure mark before W&J clawed back to a 65-65 score off a tip-in made by Acosta.
 
After an exchange of driving layups, the Tartans drained a triple to take a three-point lead, 70-67. A series of costly turnovers allowed CMU to add to its lead before being halted by a Quinton Burlenski (Bridgeport, Ohio/Central Catholic) three pointer to reduce the lead to 74-70 with 1:17 remaining. The Tartans fended off the Presidents in the closing minute to take a 76-70 victory.
 
W&J led the turnover battle, causing 25 turnovers to the Presidents 17 and bested the opposing unit in fastbreak points due to its full court press, 14-8. Carnegie Mellon dominated the boards (36-22) and excelled in generating second-chance points (15-2).
 
The Presidents remain at home this coming weekend for the Great Lakes Invitational. W&J will play two games across Friday (Nov. 21) and Saturday (Nov. 22), hosting an eight-game slate in the Salvitti Family Gymnasium. The Red & Black open the GLI with a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Case Western Reserve Spartans on Friday.