The win, which put BC (12-4, 3-0) in sole possession of first place in the league, also upped the team’s winning streak to seven. The Presidents fell to 4-12 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Just as they did in Wednesday’s win over Waynesburg College, the Bison used a barrage of three-pointers to take a double-digit halftime lead. W&J made it an 18-16 game about midway through the half off the strength of a 10-2 run. Bethany senior Mike Drahos then tallied seven points during a 13-0 spurt that gave BC a 15-point lead. In hitting 10 of 15 attempts from the arc in the opening stanza, the Bison final five scores came from three-point land, as they carried a 51-35 lead into intermission.
Both Matt and Mike Drahos had 12 points by the break and Mezyk got his big day off to a solid start, as he hit all three of his attempts from deep for nine first half points.
The Bison continued to use expert marksmanship from the three-point line in the second half to maintain their lead, which was never smaller than 11 or bigger than 18. Mike Drahos exploded for 21 second half points to match his season-high, while Bethany knocked down seven-of-nine attempts from deep to finish with 17 threes in the game. It’s their most since hitting the same number in a Dec. 28, 2001 victory over Carroll College.
Leading Bethany’s remarkable accuracy was Mezyk, who cashed in all five trifecta attempts in the second half. His 8-8 performance in the contest set a Bethany single-game record for the most treys hit without a miss.
Mike Drahos’s 33 points led Bethany’s offensive onslaught and the 6-5 senior also recorded 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year and 32nd of his career. Mezyk set a new career-high with 24 points, while Matt Drahos tossed in 16. Junior guard Marc Palermo put up a solid all-around game with seven points, six assists and four steals.
The Presidents were led by freshman center Josip Lucic-Jozak, who amassed 29 points and 14 boards, while Jon Koch had 24 and Brandon Studer added 11.
The Bison head out on the road for their next outing, as they travel to Westminster College Monday night. Tip-off between Bethany and the Titans is slated for 8 p.m.
Washington & Jefferson vs Bethany College 1/14/06 4 p.m. at Bethany, WV At Bethany, WV BETHANY COLLEGE 100, WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON 83 WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON (4-12, 2-1 PAC) Josip Lucic-Jozak 10-15 9-11 29; Jon Koch 8-15 6-7 24; Brandon Studer 4-12 2-2 11; Matt Vorndran 4-9 0-0 9; Tony Lewis 2-2 0-1 4; Greg Stuckey 2-4 0-0 4; Scott Oklin 1-1 0-0 2; Kevin Bringman 0-1 0-0 0; Nate Burton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-59 17-21 83. BETHANY COLLEGE (12-4, 3-0 PAC) Mike Drahos 9-14 13-14 33; Scott Mezyk 8-9 0-0 24; Matt Drahos 6-12 2-2 16; Marc Palermo 3-6 0-1 7; Brody Jackson 2-6 0-0 6; Marcus Adams 2-3 0-0 5; Chris Stephens 0-0 5-6 5; Josh Polantz 1-2 0-0 3; James Wallace 0-0 1-4 1; Joe Sprumont 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-52 21-27 100. Washington & Jefferson........ 35 48 - 83 Bethany College............... 51 49 - 100 3-point goals-Washington & Jefferson 4-12 (Jon Koch 2-4; Brandon Studer 1-4; Matt Vorndran 1-2; Greg Stuckey 0-2), Bethany College 17-24 (Scott Mezyk 8-8; Matt Drahos 2-3; Brody Jackson 2-4; Mike Drahos 2-3; Josh Polantz 1-1; Marcus Adams 1-1; Marc Palermo 1-4). Fouled out--Washington & Jefferson-None, Bethany College-Matt Drahos. Rebounds-Washington & Jefferson 33 (Josip Lucic-Jozak 14), Bethany College 22 (Mike Drahos 12). Assists-Washington & Jefferson 9 (Nate Burton 4), Bethany College 23 (Marc Palermo 6). Total fouls-Washington & Jefferson 19, Bethany College 18. A-255 Bethany goes over 100 points for third straight game. Bethany's Mike Drahos matches season-high with 33 points.