GREENVILLE, Pa. (Dec. 7) – The combination of a stellar shooting effort and a productive first half drove the Waynesburg University men's basketball team to its biggest win of the young season. The Yellow Jackets outscored Thiel 41-29 over the first 20 minutes of play en route to an 82-70 victory over the Tomcats.
 
The Jackets (2-1, 3-4) excelled in all areas of their offensive game. The visiting team connected on 48 percent of its tries from the floor (27-of-56), half of its three pointers (10-of-20) and 86 percent of its free throw attempts (18-of-21). Those ingredients produced Waynesburg's largest point total of the year, which is also the largest scoring effort allowed by Thiel (1-2, 5-2) in the 2016-17 season.
 
The Orange and Black's excellence spread to the defensive side of the ball, where it held the Tomcats to their lowest point output of the year. Waynesburg's perimeter defense was particularly impressive, as it held the opposition to a two-for-nine showing from three-point range.
 
The Jackets got their eventual win off to a solid start by combining three free throws and a three-pointer by sophomore Brennan Smith to take a 6-0 lead after two minutes of play. Waynesburg grew that advantage to nine points on an old-fashioned three-point play by junior wing Jon Knab with 12 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Thiel answered Waynesburg's challenge and took its first lead of the night at 20-19 12 minutes into the contest. That was the only time the Tomcats were able to pull ahead of the visiting squad. The home team led for just 1:41 as senior guard Timmy Kaiser knocked down a two-point jumper with 7:13 remaining in the first half.
 
The Jackets dominated the final 3:37 to turn a slim 31-27 edge into its sizeable halftime advantage. Junior guard Kendall Paige played a major role in the 10-2 run by knocking down a pair of three-pointers. Kaiser and sophomore Nate Gearhart added a bucket each to the surge.
 
Waynesburg's lead was never truly threated in period number two. Thiel pulled to within seven points (54-47) with 12:31 showing on the game clock, but didn't get any closer to completing the comeback. The Jackets grew their lead to as many as 16 points on two occasions before settling in for the 12-point victory.
 
Junior wing Jon Knab led a quintet of double-digit Waynesburg scorers by tying for the game lead with 20 points. He connected on seven-of-10 tries from the field and all five of his free throw attempts. Knab also pulled down five rebounds in the win.
 
Smith added a team-high six rebounds to a six-for-11 shooting effort that produced 14 points. He also swatted away a team-best three shots. Kaiser and Gearhart chipped in 11 points each to the winning effort, while Paige added 10 markers and a game-high four steals off the bench. Senior guard Christian Koroly helped out the offense with a team-high five assists.
 
The Jackets will go for a third-straight win on Saturday, Dec. 10, when they host Saint Vincent. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.