PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team lost a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game on the road to the Chatham Cougars, 83-78, Wednesday night.

The opening 10 minutes of the game was back and forth, as neither team was really able to keep the lead. However, Chatham opened up a nine-point lead with just under five minutes to go in the first half.

Thiel would get as close as six, but Chatham would go into halftime up 43-33.

In the second half, the Tomcats would regain the lead with 11:50 remaining in the game.

The last time the Tomcats would hold the lead was with a 67-66 advantage after Ethan Barnes (Boynton Beach, Fla./Suncoast) canned a pair of free-throws.

A jumper from Marlon Ellerbee (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) cut the Cougar lead to just three with four seconds to play, but a pair of free throws sealed the win for Chatham.

Thiel was led by Elijah Harden (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) who recorded a game-high 26 points to go along with two rebounds and two assists. Ethan Barnes (Boynton Beach, Fla./Suncoast) recorded 17 points and four rebounds, while Ellerbee recorded 11 points and three boards.

Chatham was led by Luca Robinson who recorded 21 points and seven rebounds. Geoffrey Helm notched 16 points, while Isaiah Smith recorded 15 points.

The Tomcats return to Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium when they host the Washington and Jefferson Presidents on Monday. The PAC game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.