Box Score
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 5) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team took a step towards securing a home game for the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) playoffs by defeating Washington & Jefferson 82-77 on Wednesday night. The Yellow Jackets now sit just one game behind W&J for fourth place in the conference standings and postseason hosting rights.
The victory gave the Jackets (10-11, 5-7) their first two-game regular season sweep of a PAC opponent since the 2006-07 campaign (Grove City) and their first two-game sweep of Washington & Jefferson (11-10, 6-6) since the 2003-04 season.
Waynesburg got the game off on the right foot by opening up an 8-2 lead over the first 3:26 of action. The Presidents responded to their opponents' quick start by scoring 14 of the next 19 points to establish a 16-13 edge at the 12:13 mark of the first half. The two teams battled back-and-forth for the remainder of the opening period, and by the time halftime rolled around, the Jackets were clinging to a 40-39 edge.
W&J knocked down a quick basket to open the second-half scoring and pick up a 41-40 edge. That was the last lead the home team enjoyed for the remainder of the contest. Waynesburg junior
Byrum Louco gave his squad the advantage back with a basket on the ensuing possession that started a 7-0 Jacket surge. By the time the Presidents were able to find the bottom of the basket again, the Orange and Black led 47-41 after two minutes of second-half action.
The host squad pulled to within a single point of the Jackets on multiple occasions, but a pair of Louco free throws with 1:33 remaining in the game put the visitors ahead 76-68. The Presidents kept fighting to the very end of the game and back-to-back three-pointers cut the Waynesburg lead to just two points at 76-74.
The Jackets were able to finally put a bow on the win by knocking down six-of-eight foul shots over the final 16 seconds of competition. Four different Waynesburg players went to the line during the stretch run to victory.
Junior forward
Jacob Fleegle put on a shooting clinic for the Jackets. He poured in a game-high 23 points on eight-of-nine shooting from the field. He also connected on all three of his three-point tries. Louco and junior forward
Jason Propst joined Fleegle as double-digit scorers with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Propst also tied for the game lead with seven rebounds, while Louco dished out a contest-best five assists.
Both teams did an admirable job of protecting the basketball. Waynesburg committed just nine turnovers in the win, while the Presidents gave up possession just 10 times. The Jackets also held minor advantages in rebounding, foul shooting and three-point shooting.
The Orange and Black will go for its third win in four games on Saturday, Feb. 8, during a road trip to Geneva College. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
