WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 4) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team hosted Hood College for an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South quarterfinal game on Wednesday at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The Yellow Jackets held the lead for almost all of the first half and parts of the second half, but a late run by the Blazers allowed them to snatch away a 59-55 victory and advance to the ECAC Division III South semifinals.
 
The Yellow Jackets (18-12) came out firing and took a 5-0 lead on a three-pointer by junior guard B.J. Durham and a jumper by senior forward Jacob Fleegle. That early lead grew to seven points (13-6) midway through the opening half.
 
The Jackets continued to lead as the first period drew closer to its conclusion. With 3:10 remaining until halftime, Waynesburg sported a 27-22 edge. However, Hood was able to score the final five points of the half to tie the score at 27-27 by the time the two teams broke for their respective locker rooms.
 
The Blazers took their first lead of the contest (29-27) 17 seconds into period number two. The visiting team grew that advantage to five points (32-27) with a three-pointer, before Fleegle knocked down a jumper to make the score 32-29. Back-to-back baskets by senior guard Byrum Louco and Fleegle gave Waynesburg the lead back at 33-32 just under three minutes into the half. Hood moved back ahead (34-33) thanks to a layup on the ensuing possession.
 
Hood and Waynesburg battled throughout the second period and with 1:51 showing on the clock, senior Kenny Klase dropped in a layup to put the home team up 55-53. Unfortunately, that was not only the final basket of Klase's collegiate career, but the final hoop of the Jackets' season. Hood, on the other hand, went on to tie the game at the 38:31 mark of the game, then picked up the victory by knocking down four-straight free throws, the first of which came with 50 seconds showing on the game clock.
 
Fleegle poured in a game-high 13 points and yanked down a contest-best eight rebounds during his final game in a Jacket uniform. He was joined as a double-digit scorer by junior guard B.J. Durham, who notched 10 points in the loss.
 
Waynesburg's six three-pointers helped it stand up to a Hood attack that connected on 21-of-30 free throw attempts. The Jackets knocked down just seven-of-13 tries from the stripe.
 
Hood advances to face Stevenson University in Saturday's ECAC Division III South semifinal game. The tournament's semifinals games and title contest will be hosted at Bethany College.