Jon Koch had a game-high 24 points and 14 rebounds for W&J (9-14, 7-3) while Brandon Studer and Josip Lucic-Jozak added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Freshman guard James Beedle had 16 points to lead Thiel (4-19, 1-9). Senior forward Stephen Laird added 13 points and five rebounds.
Tied at 15-15 with 11:39 to play in the first, the Tomcats outscored the Presidents 15-8 over the next 6:20 to assume a 30-23 lead with just over six minutes to play before the half. W&J closed out the half outscoring Thiel 16-5 and went into the break with a 41-37 edge.
The Presidents extended their lead to nine (58-49) with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest before the Tomcats put together a 14-4 run to give the visitors a 63-62 lead with 4:52 to play. Sophomore guard Gary Gates dropped in a pair of free throws with 2:36 to play to force the sixth tie of the second half (68-68), but W&J was able to get to the line and convert seven-of-eight free throws down the stretch to secure the nine-point win.
Thiel returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15 when they host PAC rival Westminster College. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score Thiel College vs Washington & Jefferson 2/11/06 8:00 pm at Washington, Pa. At Washington, Pa. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON 77, THIEL COLLEGE 68 THIEL COLLEGE (4-19, 1-9) James Beedle 4-8 5-6 16; Stephen Laird 3-9 5-6 13; Damien Williams 2-8 5-6 9; Gary Gates 3-8 2-2 8; Andre Jones 4-4 0-0 8; Mike Quaglia 2-4 1-2 6; Tony White 1-5 2-2 4; Dan Quiring 2-3 0-1 4; Steffon Radcliff 0-1 0-0 0; Geno Bianco 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-51 20-25 68. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON (9-14, 7-3) Jon Koch 7-17 10-11 24; Brandon Studer 4-10 2-4 13; Josip Lucic-Jozak 5-6 2-2 12; Tony Lewis 3-4 3-4 9; Nate Burton 1-1 4-4 6; Matt Vorndran 2-8 0-3 4; Greg Stuckey 1-3 0-0 3; Kevin Bringman 1-6 0-2 3; Chris Sheehan 1-3 0-0 2; Mike Gutowski 0-4 1-2 1; Scott Oklin 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 25-64 22-34 77. Thiel College................. 37 31 - 68 Washington & Jefferson........ 41 36 - 77 3-point goals-Thiel College 6-21 (James Beedle 3-7; Stephen Laird 2-5; Mike Quaglia 1-2; Tony White 0-2; Geno Bianco 0-1; Gary Gates 0-1; Damien Williams 0-3), Washington & Jefferson 5-20 (Brandon Studer 3-8; Kevin Bringman 1-3; Greg Stuckey 1-1; Matt Vorndran 0-1; Chris Sheehan 0-1; Mike Gutowski 0-2; Jon Koch 0-4). Fouled out--Thiel College-James Beedle; Stephen Laird; Geno Bianco, Washington & Jefferson-None. Rebounds-Thiel College 25 (Stephen Laird 5), Washington & Jefferson 52 (Jon Koch 14). Assists-Thiel College 13 (Stephen Laird 3; James Beedle 3; Tony White 3), Washington & Jefferson 14 (Kevin Bringman 4; Jon Koch 4). Total fouls-Thiel College 29, Washington & Jefferson 20. A-250