HAMBURG, N.Y. (Nov. 16) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team opened its 2018-19 schedule on Friday night at the Ninth Annual Hilbert College Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament. The Yellow Jackets faced off with the host Hawks and fell 79-62.
 
Waynesburg (0-1) never led on the night, but trailed by just four points (28-24) with 3:23 remaining in the first half. However, the Hawks (2-0) ended the opening period on an 11-3 run to take a 39-27 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Jackets never got the scores back to a single-digit deficit before the game reached its conclusion. The Orange and Black put 16 players on the floor in its first game of the season. Every one of those players scored, grabbed at least one rebound or dished out at least one assist in the loss.
 
Sophomore guard Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) led Waynesburg with a team-high 11 points. Senior wing Clay Carper (Avon, Ohio / Lutheran West) chipped in eight points, while junior guard Virgil Walker (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) tallied six points off the bench.
 
The Waynesburg bench tallied 34 of the team's 63 points.
 
Rebounding played a huge role in Hilbert's win, as the Hawks held a 51-23 advantage on the glass. However, the Jackets held a major edge in turnovers. The visitors coughed the ball up 15 times, but forced the host team into 26 turnovers.
 
"Credit to Hilbert, their physicality was not something we were able to match tonight," said Waynesburg head coach Mark Christner. "We look forward to the opportunity to play well tomorrow."
 
The Jackets are back in action in Hamburg, New York, tomorrow when they face RPI in the tournament's consolation game. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.