Hiram Secures 79-69 Win Despite Four Presidents In Double Figures
HIRAM, Ohio -- Sophomore point guard Doug Johnson (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led four Presidents in double figures with 13 points; however, Hiram overcame a six-point, first-half deficit to earn a 79-69 men's basketball victory over Washington & Jefferson on Monday evening at Price Gymnasium.
The Presidents (3-7) and Terriers (3-4) were tied on 15 different occassions during the game and the lead changed hands six times.
W&J built a 26-20 lead midway through the first half, but Hiram hit a trio of three-pointers in the final 3:50, including Alan Sheppard's with seven seconds left to give the Terriers a 38-36 edge at halftime. Johnson knocked down three treys in the opening 20 minutes, while sophomore forward Mitch Locher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) made all four of his field goal attempts.
The Terriers slowly extended their lead in the second half, eventually stretching it to 10 (62-52) after Steve Zivoder's jumper with 8:21 remaining. Sophomore guard Mike Resnik's (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport) basket with 5:08 left brought the Presidents to within 65-60, but Sheppard answered with nine of Hiram's next 11 points to up the lead to 76-66 with 1:50 remaining.
Sheppard scored 19 points and added four assists for the Terriers, who shot 45 percent (29-of-61) overall, including 50 percent in the second half (16-of-32). Hiram drilled 9-of-31 three-pointers.
Johnson made 4-of-7 three-point shots for the Presidents, while senior forward Ben Cecchini (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown) added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Senior guard Zach Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Resnik both netted 10 points. Sophomore forward Nate Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) led W&J in rebounds (11), while contributing eight points and four assists. Washington & Jefferson out-rebounded Hiram 43-36.
The Presidents look to get back into the win column on Thursday in its first game at the Las Vegas Hoopla in Nevada. W&J takes on Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 7:00 pm EST before playing Occidental (Calif.) Friday at 9:00 pm EST.
