Truex career-high lifts Bison over W&J, 89-69

Truex career-high lifts Bison over W&J, 89-69

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 10) - Led by a career-high 27 points from sophomore forward Chaice Truex (Wheeling, W.Va./St. John's Central (Ohio)), the Bison cruised past Washington & Jefferson 89-69 Saturday evening in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game.

The win improves the Bethany College men's basketball team to 13-10 overall, 13-3 against league foes. Bethany will enter the final week of the regular-season in second place behind Thomas More in the PAC. Meanwhile, the Presidents fall to 3-13 in conference play, 4-19 overall.

Truex made 11-of-17 from the field, including three of his four three-point attempts, to establish a new-career high. Seniors Liam Davis (Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep) and Jerron Athey (Richmond, Va./Banner Christian) both narrowly missed out on double-doubles. Davis posted 16 points with nine rebounds, while Athey finished with 13 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to help the Bison claim the win.

Bethany converted four of its first five shots from the field in the opening three minutes and raced out to a 9-1 lead with 16:41 left in the first half. After Truex gave the Bison a 13-5 lead a minute later, the Presidents found their rhythm on offense and tied the game up at 15-15 with a 10-2 run nearing the 13-minute mark.

The Green & White did not relinquish the lead and answered with a 19-4 spurt of its own, including 11-unanswered, to rebuild the lead to 28-17 with 7:37 to play in the opening period. Truex put the finishing touches on the run with back-to-back three pointers and scored 11 of the team's points during that span. The Bison maintained its double-digit edge and eventually took a 46-33 lead into halftime.

The two teams exchanged baskets for the majority of the first five minutes of the second half, before the Presidents finally got the score within single-digits at 55-47 with 13:58 left in the game. W&J hovered around a 10-point deficit for the next nine minutes and trailed 69-60 with 5:50 remaining in regulation.

The Bison never let the Presidents' get any closer and out-scored W&J 20-to-9 over the final six minutes to wrap up the team's 13th league-win this season. W&J only made three of its final 10 shots, as Bethany converted 8-of-12 at the free-throw line to seal the win.

The Bison ended the night shooting 34-of-65 (52 percent) from the field, compared to the 24-of-62 (39 percent) posted by the Presidents. The Bison also out-rebounded W&J 43-to-33 in the win.

Bethany returns to the court on Wednesday, February 14 when it hosts Chatham for Senior Day at Hummel Field House at 7:30 p.m.