WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 9) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team tipped off the 2021-22 season on Tuesday by hosting Oberlin in a non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The two teams slugged it out over 40 defense-heavy minutes, and by the time the final whistle blew, the Yeomen left town with a 45-42 win.
 
The first points of the season for the Yellow Jackets (0-1) came courtesy of senior guard Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) who knocked down a three-pointer 1:47 into the contest. Oberlin (1-0) answered back with a two-point basket of its own that made the score 3-2. These first few minutes of the contest set the tone for the rest of a game that featured 11 lead changes and five ties.
 
Not surprisingly, by the time the two teams went to their respective locker rooms at halftime, the score was tied 20-20. The flow of the first half continued into period number two and with 11:31 remaining, a Popeck field goal put the host squad ahead 32-30.
 
Over the next 2:16, Oberlin went on an 8-0 run that gave the Yeomen a 38-32 edge. The visitors never trailed for the remainder of the contest and built up leads as large as nine points (45-36) with 5:27 showing on the clock.
 
The Jackets didn't give up the fight as the game went into its stretch run and thanks to a game-ending 6-0 run, trailed by a single basket with 51 seconds left in the contest. A steal by first-year graduate student Nijon Kirkman (Cleveland, Ohio / John Jay) gave the home team a chance for a game-tying trey, which was attempted by sophomore Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) as time wore down.
 
After Knotts' attempt missed the mark, an offensive rebound by sophomore Bryson Wilt (Oaklnd, Md. / Southern Garrett) kept the Jackets comeback tries alive. Popeck launched from well behind the arc, but unfortunately that try also came up empty as time expired.
 
Popeck led Waynesburg with a game-high 13 points. He added six rebounds and two assists to his night. Wilt chipped in nine points, while Kirkman tied for the contest lead with nine boards.
 
After playing in front of their home crowd, the Jackets play the first of five-straight road games on Saturday, Nov. 13, at Penn State Behrend. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.