CINCINNATTI, Ohio (Nov. 25) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team wrapped up its weekend stay at the Mt. St. Joseph Tip-off Tournament on Sunday with a game against North Park. The Yellow Jackets dropped the contest by the final score of 64-51.
After scoring the first basket of the game, the Yellow Jackets (1-4) trailed for the next six minutes of play. However, senior wing
Nate Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) knocked down a go-ahead three-pointer to give his team an 8-7 edge.
Junior guard
Frank Bozicevic (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) followed with a trey of his own to stretch the Yellow Jacket advantage to 11-7. Waynesburg continued to lead for the next five minutes, before North Park (1-5) tied the game at 19-19. The Vikings took control of the first half a short time later thanks to a 15-5 surge that gave North Park a 34-24 advantage with two minutes left in the half.
A jumper by Bozicevic cut the Jacket deficit down to 34-26, which was also the score at halftime.
Waynesburg never led throughout the second half, but an old-fashioned three-point play by junior wing
Brennan Smith (New Cumberland, W.Va. / Oak Glen) with 4:33 showing on the clock pulled the Orange and Black to within four points at 51-47.
Unfortunately, the Vikings owned the stretch run of the contest. They outscored Waynesburg 13-4 to close out the victory.
Though his team suffered the loss, Waynesburg head coach
Mark Christner saw some definite positives from his squad.
"I liked the way we responded to a less-than-optimal performance yesterday," Christner said. "We'll get the offense going, but the energy and camaraderie we showed today needs to say with us throughout the season."
Bozicevic poured in a team-high 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field. Smith added 15 points and both juniors tied for the squad lead with eight rebounds each.
Waynesburg gets to finally play its first home game on Wednesday, when it opens Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play against Grove City. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
