WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 22) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team wrapped up the calendar year with a home game against Muskingum on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets dropped a 96-71 final score to the visiting Muskies in front of the crowd gathered at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
 
First-year senior Jake Dougherty (New Bethlehem, Pa. / Redbank Valley) shot out of the gate and scored Waynesburg's (3-8) first seven points of the contest. Thanks to his efforts, the Jackets opened up a 7-3 lead over Muskingum (5-5).
 
Unfortunately, the rest of the game belonged to the hot shooting Muskies, who seemingly couldn't miss from the floor. The visiting team connected on 17-of-26 field goals (65.4 percent), nine-of-16 three-point tries (56.3 percent) and seven-of-10 foul shots during the first half and took a 50-35 lead into the break.
 
Things didn't get much easier for the Orange and Black over the final 20 minutes of competition, as the Muskies closed out the 25-point victory. The Red and Black shot 60 percent from the floor on the day and made 19-of-34 three-point attempts.
 
Though it came in a losing effort, four different Jackets reached double digits in the scoring column. Senior wing Nate Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) and junior wing Shane Johnson (Shadyside, Ohio / Shadyside) tied for the team lead with 15 points each. Johnson did so by efficiently knocking down six-of-seven field goal tries.
 
Junior forward Brennan Smith (New Cumberland, W.Va. / Oak Glen) chipped in 14 points on a five-of-11 shooting, while Dougherty wound up with a dozen markers. Junior guard Frank Bozicevic (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) pulled down a game-high seven rebounds in the loss.
 
The Jackets tip off the new year by hosting Kenyon on Jan. 3. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.