WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 22) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team opened the home portion of its 2017-18 schedule on Wednesday at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The Yellow Jackets looked primed to pick up their first win of the year, but a big second-half lead evaporated over the final minutes of the contest allowing Fredonia (N.Y.) to score an 89-81 victory.
 
Powered by some outstanding three-point shooting over the first 20 minutes, Waynesburg (0-3) held a 45-36 halftime lead. The Jackets knocked down nine-of-18 attempts from long range in the first period and connected on their first two tries from downtown after the break to take a 53-38 advantage.
 
Freshman guard Matt Popeck connected on treys on back-to-back possessions, the second coming with roughly 13 minutes left in the contest, to rebuild the Jackets' 15-pound lead at 65-50. Unfortunately for Waynesburg, Fredonia (1-3) put together a 13-2 surge over the next four minutes to pull to within four points at 67-63.
 
A layup by senior wing Kendall Paige and a free throw from senior forward Mike Nugent gave the Jackets a little more room to breath at 70-63. The Devils responded with an 9-2 spurt, and with 3:36 showing on the game clock, the score was tied at 72-72. Waynesburg briefly regained the lead thanks to a pair of free throws from senior forward Marcus Wallace, but the Blue Devils were just about to put the game out of reach.
 
Trailing 74-72, the visiting team put the final touches on its comeback by outscoring the Orange and Black 12-0 to take an 84-74 advantage with 30 seconds left on the clock. Fredonia made more than enough free throws over the waning seconds of night to score its first win of the season.

"Winning games in college is difficult and our group learned a tough lesson tonight," said Waynesburg head coach Mark Christner. "Guys have to play how we are designed for 40 minutes with great urgency. The game can turn quickly."
 
A big night from three-point range for Waynesburg (14-of-31) wasn't enough to counter Fredonia's advantage from the free throw line, where it knocked down 24-of-32 tries. The Jackets made just five-of-10 attempts.  
 
Waynesburg forced its opposition into 24 turnovers, 13 of which came on steals. However, Fredonia did a better job of controlling the glass, out-rebounding the host team 41-27.
 
The Jackets were led by senior wing Jon Knab, who poured in a game-high 22 points on nine-of-16 shooting. Popeck contributed 18 points over a team-high 34 minutes on the floor, while junior wing Nate Gearhart chipped in 12 points, all on first-half three-pointers, during 19 bench minutes.
 
The Jackets return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 29, when they open Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play against Grove City. Tipoff from the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

"Typically, when you give up 57 percent on field goal shooting to the opposition and get out-rebounded by 14, you will come up short," Christner said. "So, we'll break and get it figured out for conference play."