WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 18) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team continued its memorable midseason turnaround when it hosted Thiel on Saturday. The Yellow Jacket backcourt led the charge, as the home team downed the Tomcats 76-64.
 
Things started slowly for Waynesburg (4-12, 4-3), as Thiel (4-10, 3-4) opened the game with a 9-2 run over the first four minutes of play. However, the home team was able to turn the tables on the opposition with a 14-5 surge that was punctuated with a go-ahead three-pointer by senior guard Frank Bozicevic (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) that put his team up 16:14 with 11:38 remaining in the first half.
 
The two conference rivals fired back and forth with small runs as the half expired. By the time the final buzzer of the first period sounded, Waynesburg and Thiel were knotted up at 26-26.
 
After play resumed, it was the Jackets that got off to the strong start thanks to a three pointer by freshman guard Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) and a steal that Bozicevic converted into two fast break points that made the score 31-26. The Jackets never trailed for the remainder of the contest, but that doesn't mean the final result was sealed at that point.
 
Another Bozicevic trey with 12:45 remaining in the game put Waynesburg ahead by nine (45-36), but the Tomcats whittled their deficit down to four (48-44) over the next two minutes. Thiel pulled to within two points (55-53) with just over seven minutes left to play, but that was as close as it came to completing the comeback try.
 
Waynesburg managed to pull away for its fourth-straight victory by attacking the paint and getting to the free throw line on a regular basis. The Jackets knocked down all 12 of their foul shots and dropped in three layups over the final six minutes to turn a five-point advantage into their 12-point margin of victory.
 
Bozicevic continued his recent scoring binge by pouring in a game-high 26 points. He connected on eight-of-13 attempts from the floor, nailed four-of-six from three-point range and was successful on six-of-seven free throws. The veteran also grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and swiped two steals.
 
Bozicevic has tallied at least 20 points in three-straight games and has reached double digits in five-straight contests.
 
Felberg notched his second 20-plus-point output in three contests with exactly 20 over 37 minutes prior to fouling out. He connected on the Jackets' other three successful tries from long range. Junior Isaiah Alonzo (Chandler, Ariz. / Tri-City Christian Academy) contributed 18 points and just missed out on his fifth double-double with nine rebounds.
 
Though he was held to just two points on one field goal attempt, senior Brennan Smith (New Cumberland, W.Va. / Oak Glen) made an impact with a game-high five assists and six rebounds.
 
Waynesburg's 21-for-23 effort at the free throw line played a major role in the win, as did its 24-for-46 showing (52.2 %) from the field. Defensively, the Orange and Black held Thiel to 35.9 % from the field and just 18.2 % (four-of-22) from three-point range. The Jackets also held a sizeable 37-28 edge in rebounding.
 
Waynesburg will look to end the first half of its PAC schedule on a high note Wednesday, when it travels to Bethany. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.