Men's Basketball | 2/27/2026 1:00:00 AM

TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - The Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Men’s Basketball Championship will feature a match-up between divisional top seeds Westminster College and Washington & Jefferson College after both teams advanced with semifinal victories on Thursday night.

Westminster earned an 81-79 victory over Chatham University at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium. The Titans overcame a 14-point second-half deficit, capped by freshman guard Lucas Stanley’s game-winning three-pointer with four seconds remaining. Graduate student guard DJ Harrell led the way with 36 points, while senior guard Trey DePietro added 17 points. The top seed in the PAC North improves to 19-8 with the win.

In the narrow setback, Chatham (18-8) was led by senior guard Lovenson Xavier, who had a huge game with 36 points and nine rebounds, and senior guard Diaun Pinkett, who registered 16 points, five rebounds and four assist.

W&J, the top seed in the PAC South, defeated Franciscan University, 75-65 in the other semifinal. Junior forward Nathan Plotner paced the Presidents with 22 points, while senior forward Alex Acosta recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and senior guard Matt Seidl totaled 13 points and four assists. The victory marks W&J’s second consecutive PAC Championship appearance and third in the past five years.

For Franciscan, who finishes with a 21-6 record, junior guard Sawyer Butler hit for 17 points, sophomore guard Nathan Richards chipped in 15 off the bench and junior forward Zach Oliver had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

This match-up sets the stage for a rematch of the teams’ last meeting on February 7, when W&J defeated Westminster 105-84 in Washington, Pa. W&J is seeking its 10th PAC title and its first since the 2021-22 season. Westminster will be trying to win its first conference crown since the 2020-21 campaign and the Titans' third overall.

The PAC Men’s Basketball Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Salvitti Family Gymnasium. The PAC Sports Network will have live free-to-view coverage of Saturday's title tilt.