WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington and Jefferson College men's basketball team had three players reach double-digit scoring totals Wednesday, as the host Presidents pulled away from the Kenyon College Lords to record a 73-55 non-conference win.
Kenyon (1-2) struggled to find it's shooting stroke, but was down by just two points, 24-22, at halftime. The Lords were 9-of-32 (28.2 percent) over the first 20 minutes of play. At the other end of the floor, the Kenyon defense did its part, holding Washington and Jefferson to just four field goals in 26 attempts (15.4 percent). The Presidents, however, frequented the free throw line and sank 15-of-19 shots to maintain their lead.
In the second half, things turned around for the Washington and Jefferson (4-1), which dramatically increased their shooting percent to 64.3 percent (18-of-28) over the final 20 minutes of play. Cameron Seemann, Primo Zini, and Jacob Davenport combined for 28 points in the second half and started a run that left the Lords behind for good.
About four minutes into the half, Kenyon knotted thing up at 31-31 following a jumper by sophomore
Elijah Davis and two free throws from junior
Ugnius Zilinskas. After that, Seemann scored the game's next six points. Davenport followed up with a three-pointer and the Presidents' marched ahead 41-33 with 13:09 left on the clock.
Kenyon pulled within seven points at four different times over the next four minutes, but could get no closer. In the game's final five minutes, Davenport sealed the deal. He poured in nine straight points to give the Presidents a 19-point cushion at 68-49 with four minutes remaining.
Davenport finished the game with 15 points. Zini was 8-for-9 at the free throw line and finished with 16 points, while Seemann was 7-of-8 at the stripe and posted a team-high 18 points.
Davis and Zilinskas led Kenyon in scoring. Davis racked up 17 points and Zilinskas, who was 9-of-10 at the free throw line, added 14 points. Overall, the Lords were 10-of-16 at the line, while the Presidents were 22-of-27.
Up next for Kenyon is a Saturday home game against Waynesburg University.
