WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 20) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team hosted Bethany for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown on Saturday afternoon. For a second-straight game, the Yellow Jackets were able to break open a close halftime score for a comfortable victory, this time downing the Bison 68-43.
 
Waynesburg's (2-3) defensive efforts stole the show for the victors. The home team racked up 14 steals to make up the majority of Bethany's (0-5) 21 turnovers. The Jackets held the visiting squad to a 30 percent shooting effort from the floor (15-of-50) and a three-for-21 showing from three-point range (14.3 percent).
 
All those numbers add up to the fewest points allowed by the Jackets since holding Catholic to 42 on Dec. 29, 2015.
 
"Defensively, we were excellent. We kept the ball out of the paint, contested shots and rebounded extremely well," said Waynesburg head coach Tim Fusina. "It was not a great shooting day for us, but when you defend at a high level like we have been, you can still win games."
 
After freshman Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) opened the scoring with a layup 26 seconds into the contest and junior forward Isaiah Alonzo (Chandler, Ariz. / Tri-City Christian Academy) followed a short time later with a field goal of his own, Waynesburg took a 4-0 game-opening lead. Bethany answered with a pair of baskets to tie things up at 4-4.
 
Alonzo responded by slamming home two more points to make the score 6-4 four minutes into the contest. The Jackets never trailed for the remainder of the afternoon. Junior guard Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) knocked down a three-pointer to end the first half and when the two teams broke for their respective locker rooms, Waynesburg was up 30-23.
 
The Bison opened the second half by scoring five of the first seven points and trailed the host squad by just four (32-28) 1:05 into the final period. However, Waynesburg put together one of its best runs of the season to put more than enough distance between itself and Bethany to cruise to a second-straight victory.
 
The Yellow Jackets outscored the opposition 34-8 and with 3:12 left in regulation, the Orange and Black established a 66-36 advantage. After both teams went deep into their respective benches, Bethany tallied seven-straight points to make the score 66-43. Freshman Dylan King (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) closed the scoring with 25 seconds on the game clock.
 
Knotts put together the most productive day of his young collegiate career by pouring in a game-high 16 points on seven-of-14 shooting. He also tied for the game lead with nine rebounds and paced all players with four steals.
 
Alonzo added 14 points and nine boards to the winning effort, while Popeck contributed 13 points over 21 minutes off the bench. That trio of double-digit scorers paced 10 Jackets who registered at least two points on the afternoon.
 
Waynesburg beat Bethany on the glass to the tune of a 46-37 advantage in rebounding.
 
"We have made great strides this month," Fusina said. "The potential we have is limitless."
 
The Jackets will look to make it three wins in a row on Wednesday, Feb. 24, when PAC opponent Chatham comes to the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.