WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 3) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team tipped off 2019 with a home game against Kenyon on Thursday night at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The Yellow Jackets couldn't get past the visiting Lords and dropped and fell 88-73.
 
After scoring the game's first basket, Waynesburg (3-9) fell behind 8-2 after 5:06 of game time. A Three-pointer from senior Jake Dougherty (New Bethlehem, Pa. / Redbank Valley) pulled the Jackets to within a basket of Kenyon (1-11), but the home team never got any closer to a tie throughout the remainder of the first half. When the buzzer for halftime sounded, Waynesburg found itself in a 43-30 hole.
 
The home team pulled itself to within nine points of the lead (72-63) with 5:15 remaining in the contest, but the Lords closed out the 15-point victory over the stretch of the game.
 
"Tonight was a tough result for us," said Waynesburg head coach Mark Christner. "I say congratulations to Kenyon. I thought they were the more urgent team for most of the game tonight. We have a lot of work to improve collectively, but our pieces will jive together."
 
Senior Nate Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon) and junior Shane Johnson (Shadyside, Ohio / Shadyside) both recorded a team-high 15 points off the bench. Junior Frank Bozicevic (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) shot six-for-nine from the floor on his way to a 14-point night. Sophomore Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) made his first appearance on the court since Dec. 1 and went for 10 points.
 
Waynesburg returns to Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Saturday, with a trip to Washington & Jefferson. Tipoff with the Presidents is scheduled for 3 p.m.