WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 26) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team welcomed Saint Vincent to the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. The Yellow Jackets completed a two-game season sweep of the Bearcats with a 60-43 win.
 
Senior guard Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) got another productive outing off to a quick start by knocking down a three pointer for the game's first points. Saint Vincent (2-14, 1-9) answered with four-straight points to open a brief opening stretch where the two teams traded the lead back-and-forth for the first 7:33 of play.
 
The majority of the first half was played with neither team leading by more than two field goals. However, following a pair of layups from sophomore Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights), the Jackets went into halftime holding a 37-28 lead.
 
The second period belonged to the Jacket (11-6, 7-3) defense, which stifled Saint Vincent to the tune of just 15 points allowed. Waynesburg truly put the game out reach with 9:43 remaining in the contest. Popeck strung together a free throw and two field goals to give his squad a 54-37 lead. After the Bearcats answered with a successful foul shot, junior guard Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Oho / Twinsburg) drilled a pair of three pointers, both of which were set up by assists from sophomore Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort). That 11-1 run made the score 60-38 with just 6:24 showing on the game clock.
 
SVC closed out the contest by tallying the final five points of the night, but it was too little, too late, as the Jackets celebrated their fifth win in their last six games on their home court.
 
Popeck led the charge to victory with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting. He also knocked down six three-pointers and grabbed five rebounds. Knotts nearly logged his first collegiate triple-double when he tallied 11 points, a contest-best 10 rebounds and a game-high eight assists.
 
Waynesburg's passing game was truly on point, as they recorded 16 assists on 23 made field goals.
 
Getting back to defense, not only did the Jackets not allow the Bearcats to produce a double-digit scorer, but Waynesburg also held a three-to-one advantage in turnovers given up (18-6). The Jackets have now committed eight turnovers or less in each of their last six games.
 
Wednesday's victory also completed Waynesburg's first-ever two-game regular season series sweep of Saint Vincent since both teams have been members of the PAC.
 
The Jackets are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 29, when they travel to Franciscan to face the Barons. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.