News Release

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. — Junior guard Brandon Studer (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) scored 19 points as Washington & Jefferson improved to 2-0 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s basketball standings for the first time since the 1997-98 season after defeating Thomas More, 69-55, on Wednesday evening at the Connor Convocation Center.

The Presidents (4-11, 2-0) took a 16-9 lead seven minutes into the game behind eight points from freshman center Josip Lucic-Jozak (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin).

Junior guard Jon Koch (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) made it a 26-15 W&J advantage with a jumper at the 7:56 mark and sophomore guard Greg Stuckey’s (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) three-pointer with 2:41 remaining gave the Presidents a 37-26 cushion at halftime.

Studer’s jump shot with 13:07 left to play stretched the W&J lead to 49-36, but a 9-1 Saints’ run closed the gap to 50-45 midway through the half. Washington & Jefferson then took control with a 14-3 run over the next four minutes, capped on a junior forward Kevin Bringman (Fairview Park, Ohio/St. Edward’s) lay-up at the 6:35 mark.

Studer made 7-of-9 shots from the field and also added three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Lucic-Jozak netted 12 points and grabbed nine boards. Koch also scored in double figures with 10.

The Presidents shot 45 percent (27-of-60) and held a 43-38 rebounding edge. W&J also limited the Saints (0-14, 0-2 PAC) to 1-of-15 shooting from three-point range.

Thomas More was led by R.K. Thurman’s 12 points and four rebounds. Garry Horton added 10 points and three steals for the Saints, who made 21-of-63 shot attempts (33 percent).

Washington & Jefferson travels to Bethany (W.Va.) on Saturday for a 4:00 pm PAC contest. The Presidents and Bison sit atop the conference standings with perfect 2-0 records.


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