SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (Dec. 29) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team won its fourth-straight game on Monday while competing in the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic. The Yellow Jackets used a strong second half to score a 77-69 victory over the host team from Wittenberg University.
 
Waynesburg (5-5) improved its overall winning percentage to .500 for the first time in the 2014-15 season. The Jacket victory snapped a two-game winning streak for the Tigers (3-7).
 
Things didn't start well for Waynesburg, as Wittenberg scored the first six points of the contest over just 1:09 of play. Senior wing Jacob Fleegle ended the game-opening run with a layup 1:23 into the game. The Tigers responded with a field goal to go up 8-2, before the Jackets fired back with a 9-2 surge that gave them their first lead of the night at 11-10 with 11:44 remaining in the first half.
 
The two teams battled over the rest of the opening period, with the lead changing hands on multiple occasions. By the time the first 20 minutes of competition came to a close, Wittenberg was clinging to a 30-27 lead.
 
The Tigers extended their lead to 35-29 by scoring seven of the first nine points in period number two. Wittenberg maintained its lead all the way until there was just 6:46 left to play in the game. Senior wing Thomas Ellis canned a three-pointer at that time to tie the score at 61-61. Ellis stayed hot and put his team ahead 63-61after hitting a layup following a Fleegle steal.
 
The Jacket run continued with a made free throw from Fleegle and another trey from Ellis that ran the score to 67-61 with five minutes showing on the clock. Four-straight Wittenberg points trimmed Waynesburg's advantage down to just two points at 67-65 with 4:46 left to play.
 
The game stayed close until the 57:18 mark of the contest, when the Orange and Black defense completely shut down the opposition. Waynesburg's offense added the final six points of the game to bring about the final score of 77-69.
 
Monday's game was the fourth-straight in which the Jackets outscored their opponents by at least 11 points in the second half.
 
Senior forward Jason Propst led the Waynesburg offense with a game-high 19 points. Nine of those points came on 10 free throw attempts. Ellis added 15 points over just 19 minutes off the bench and knocked down all three of his three-point tries. Junior guard B.J. Durham chipped in 10 points.
 
With the win, the Jackets advance to Tuesday's tournament championship game, where they will face Wilmington College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.