BETHANY, W.Va. (Nov. 19) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team made its way to Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) rival Bethany for a Saturday showdown with the Bison. Thanks in large part to a massive run that stretched from the end of the first half to the beginning of the second, the Yellow Jackets were able to pick up their first win of the year by the final score of 76-61.
 
Bethany (0-4, 0-2) took an early 3-2 lead, which Waynesburg (1-2, 1-1) responded to with back-to-back three pointers from graduate student Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) and junior Bryson Wilt (Oakland, Md. / Southern Garrett). The Jackets never trailed after taking that 8-3 lead, which ballooned to 20-5 just 4:39 into the first half.
 
The Bison rebounded with a 13-1 run that cut their deficit down to 21-18. The home team continued to close the gap until the score was tied 29-29 with 3:35 showing on the game clock. An 8-0 spurt to close the first 20 minutes of play not only gave Waynesburg a 37-29 advantage at the break, but set the tone for what was the game-deciding stretch of the contest.
 
Senior Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg), junior Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights), junior Jake Scheidt (Saxonburg, Pa. / Knoch) and Popeck all scored in those crucial closing minutes of the half.
 
Waynesburg didn't ease off the gas as the second half got underway. The visitors recorded 11 of the game's next 13 points to grab a 48-31 advantage. Both Scheidt and Popeck dropped in treys as part of the attack, which led to the largest lead of the game for either team. The victors maintained double-digit leads for the remainder of the contest, as they rolled to the win.
 
Scheidt was almost unstoppable on the offensive side of the court, as he poured in a game and personal collegiate-best 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting. He was even more efficient from three-point range, where he connected on four-of-five attempts. He also pulled down six rebounds, all of which were of the offensive variety, and picked up two of his team's nine steals.
 
Popeck logged yet another 20-plus-point game in his illustrious Jacket career, going for 23 points, nine of which came from 12 attempts at the free throw line.
 
The Jackets dominated the glass on the afternoon. They out-rebounded Bethany 43-23, with Baker yanking down a contest-best 11 boards. He was one of five Waynesburg players to notch at least six rebounds in the win.
 
Waynesburg will try to even its overall record at 2-2 when it travels to Thiel on Tuesday, Nov. 22, for another conference tilt. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.