Presidents Pick Up First Win Of Season On Bellhy’s Basket
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson senior guard Zach Bellhy’s (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) twisting lay-up with 1.3 seconds left gave the Presidents an 81-79 men’s basketball victory over Muskingum on Saturday afternoon at the Henry Memorial Center.
Sophomore forward Nate Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) had the best game of his collegiate career with 32 points, 14 rebounds and three assists for Washington & Jefferson.
The Presidents (1-3) led 79-76, but Muskingum’s Dave Brown drilled a long three-pointer with 16 seconds left to tie the game. W&J cleared out for Bellhy and he found a way to score, while spinning around three Muskingum defenders. He was fouled on the play and missed the free throw; however, W&J grabbed the rebound to clinch the win.
Neither team led by more than seven points in a game which featured 12 ties, including nine in the second half.
Nate Bellhy and sophomore forward Mitch Locher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) kept the Presidents alive during the first half after combining for 22 of the team’s 36 points. Locher made his first five shots, while Bellhy had 12 points and five rebounds.
Muskingum (0-4) went ahead 43-36 early in the second half, but W&J chipped away and eventually grabbed a 52-51 lead on Nate Bellhy’s triple at the 12:21 mark.
Following the eighth tie of the second half, sophomore guard Jake Swan (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) swished a three-pointer with 1:52 remaining for a 77-74 lead, but Clay Owings answered with a jumper 30 seconds later. Nate Bellhy’s two free throws with 40 seconds left upped the advantage back to three before Brown nailed his game-tying shot.
Nate Bellhy made 10-of-24 field goal attempts and 8-of-9 free throws, while Zach Bellhy contributed 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Locher finished with 10 points for the Presidents, who shot 46 percent (28-of-61). W&J dished out 17 assists and only turned the ball over five times.
Logan Kimble led five Muskies in double figures with 17 points. Muskingum shot 52 percent (27-of-52).
W&J opens Presidents’ Athletic Conference play Wednesday night versus Westminster (8:00 pm).
