BETHANY, W.VA. (Jan. 22) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team rode a four-game win streak into Wednesday night's tilt against Bethany on the road. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, they were unable to overcome a 35-25 halftime deficit and fell to the Bison by a score of 72-59.
 
With the loss, Waynesburg falls to 4-13 overall and 4-4 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.
 
The Yellow Jackets fell behind early as the Bison rattled off a 16-5 run to start the game. Bethany (2-15, 1-7) built to as much as a 17-point lead with 5:29 remaining in the first half. A 10-0 run that lasted until there was 2:58 left in the first half brought Waynesburg to within seven points (28-21), but Bethany regained control to enter halftime with a 35-25 advantage.
 
Waynesburg continued to fight back into the game, slowly chipping away at the Bethany lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half. Still trailing by 10 points with 13:44 left in the second, the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-1 run, capped by back-to-back three-pointers by senior forward Brennan Smith (New Cumberland, W.Va. / Oak Glen) and senior guard Frank Bozicevic (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway), to pull within three points.
 
However, that was as close as the comeback attempt would come as Bethany built back to a 13-point lead on multiple occasions, settling for a final score of 72-59.
 
Waynesburg was led in scoring by Smith, who dropped 20 points on six-of-nine shooting and managed a double double by grabbing 10 rebounds. Sophomore forward Isaiah Alonzo (Chandler, Ariz. / Tri-City Christian Academy) had a double double of his own in the game, notching 16 points and bringing down a game-high 15 rebounds.
 
The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse in a PAC game against Grove City. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.