WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 15) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team hosted Pitt Greensburg on Monday night for a non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown. After leading by just four points at halftime, the Yellow Jackets pulled away from the Bobcats in period number two to score an 83-63 victory.
 
The win gave the Jackets (3-5) back-to-back victories for the first time this season. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for UPG (3-5).
 
Things started out slowly for the home team, as Pitt Greensburg built an early 12-5 lead. However, the Jackets were able to erase the deficit and grab a slim 18-14 advantage after going on a 13-2 run that took 5:31 to accomplish. Five different Waynesburg players scored a least two pointes each during the surge, including junior guard B.J. Durham, who capped it with a rare four-point play.
 
The Cats rebounded from the Jacket outburst by posting the next eight points of the contest to take a 22-18 advantage with 8:30 showing on the first-half clock. Momentum swung back to the eventual victors' favor thanks to a 9-0 Waynesburg run that put the home team ahead 31-26 with 2:47 remaining until halftime. Senior Thomas Ellis put the Jackets up six (35-29) with 28 seconds left to play, but a UPG layup trimmed its deficit to 35-31 as the first period expired.
 
The second half opened with Greensburg scoring eight of the first 12 points of the period to tie the score at 39-39 after 3:30 of action. The Bobcats continued their solid play over the first 10 minutes of the period and held a slim 55-53 edge over the host Jackets. UPG stayed ahead of the opposition for the next 2:15, but the final 7:45 of the night belonged to the Orange and Black.
 
Waynesburg put together an 8-0 run that turned a 56-55 Bobcat lead into a 63-56 Jacket advantage with 6:34 left in the game. After the Bobcats halted the offensive surge, the Orange and Black caught fire again and put the game well out of reach by out-scoring the opposition 17-5 over 4:54 of play. With 1:42 showing on the scoreboard, the Jackets led 80-61 and both teams began reaching deep into their respective benches to give their younger players some time on the court.
 
The Jackets were led by senior wing Kenny Klase, who scored a game-high 21 points, including 10 successful free throws in 10 attempts. Durham, senior forward Jason Propst and junior wing D.J. Ritchie scored 10 points each to add to the balanced scoring attack. Senior wing Thomas Ellis led all bench players with nine points. Senior wing Jacob Fleegle dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Waynesburg dominated Pitt Greensburg on both sides of the ball in the three-point game. The Jackets connected on a respectable 10-of-21 attempts from long range, while holding the Bobcats to just two treys in 22 tries. The Orange and Black also out-rebounded Pitt Greensburg by a 48-to-34 margin.
 
Waynesburg returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 20, when it hosts Franciscan. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.