• Box Score

MARIETTA, Ohio (Dec. 29) – In its first action in two weeks, the Yellow Jackets suffered a 98-85 loss to Marietta College Saturday night at the 37th-annual Shrine Classic hosted by the Pioneers. Despite the double-digit loss, Waynesburg trailed by just six points in the final seven minutes of the game.

After winning its last two games before Christmas, Waynesburg University falls to 4-5 this season. Meanwhile, Marietta moves to 3-7 overall, snapping its four-game losing streak with the victory

Senior guard Tim Drakeley led the Yellow Jackets with 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting and was five-of-seven from the free-throw line. Drakeley continues to lead the conference this year with a career-best 21.6 points per game.

Senior forward Josh Parisi added 21 points on 6-of-11 field goals and 9-of-17 attempts from the charity stripe.

Junior guard Dan Happe and sophomore guard Jarell Rodriguez joined the senior duo in double-figure scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Pioneers seized control of the game with a lengthy 27-8 run over a 10-minute span in the first period, 36-18. However, the Yellow Jackets trimmed the deficit to 44-34 at halftime when they scored nine unanswered points in the final 1:44 of the period.

Marietta worked its lead back to 18 points, 66-48, before Waynesburg countered with a 9-0 rally to cut the deficit to 66-57. The Yellow Jackets eventually narrowed the margin to 73-67 following a basket by Parisi with 6:36 left in the game. However, the Pioneers sealed the victory after making 12-of-13 attempts from the free-throw line in the final two minutes.

The Pioneers featured four players in double-figure scoring, including 23 points from junior guard Isaiah Creasap. Senior forward Adam Rockhold added 19 points and a tournament-record 23 rebounds (six offensive) in the victory.

Behind the 23 rebounds from Rockhold, Marietta held a sizeable 51-32 advantage over Waynesburg, which was led by a career-high eight boards from senior guard Jered Gamble, who also set a career-best with 11 assists.

The Yellow Jackets return to action tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 30, in the second day of the Marietta Shrine Classic when they face Frostburg State University. Tip is set for 2 p.m.