WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 15) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team hit the court for the first time since Dec. 4, when it hosted Muskingum for a non-conference matchup. The Yellow Jackets extended their current winning streak to four games by downing the Muskies 81-65.
 
The victory improved Waynesburg's overall record to 6-2, which is the program's best eight-game start to a season since 2006-07, when it also went 6-2. The Yellow Jackets' fourth-straight victory is their longest win streak since winning four in a row during the 2019-20 campaign. Wednesday night also saw the Jackets end a brief two-game losing streak to Muskingum (2-6).
 
Waynesburg's defense, which entered the night allowing the fewest points per game in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), set the tone early by giving up just 25 points in the first half. The Jacket offense put up 37 points over the first 20 minutes of play and held a 12-poind halftime lead.
 
Senior guard Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) started a monster scoring night with a game-opening three pointer. Sophomore Bryson Wilt (Oakland, Md. / Southern Garrett) followed with a field goal of his own to give Waynesburg an early 5-0 advantage.
 
The Muskies took their first-and-only lead of the contest thanks to an 8-2 run that gave the visitors an 8-7 edge with 15:13 remaining in the opening half. Waynesburg not only answered the Muskingum challenge but did so by scoring the next 15 points of the game. Popeck logged eight points during the run and by the time Muskingum got back on the scoreboard, Waynesburg led 22-10 with 10:50 left to play in the first half.
 
The Jackets held double-digit leads for the vast majority of the second half and built game-high 18-point leads on multiple occasions. Waynesburg's 81-point output was its biggest of the season.
 
Popeck was at his best in the win. The senior standout piled up 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting. He was particularly effective at the free throw line and from beyond the three-point arc. He knocked down seven-of-nine from long range and connected on all six of his foul shots. His .882 free throw percentage is tops in the PAC, while his 21.4 points per game are second in the league.
 
Junior guard Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) added 15 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Jake Scheidt (Saxonburg, Pa. / Knoch) came off the bench to post 12 points on four-of-five shooting from the floor and a three-for-four effort from the foul line.
 
Sophomore Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) and Wilt scored nine and eight points, respectively, while dishing out four assists each in the victory.
 
The Jacket offense connected on a respectable 52.1 percent of its field goals and 10-of-17 three-point attempts (58.8 percent). Waynesburg also converted 21-of-26 foul shots (80.8 percent).
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Monday, Dec. 20, when it travels to Kenyon for another non-conference matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.