NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (Nov. 26) – The Waynesburg men's basketball team traveled to Westminster on Saturday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) battle with the Titans. Waynesburg trailed by just two points at halftime, but Westminster decided the game's final outcome – a 72-59 Titan win – over the last 20 minutes.
 
The Yellow Jackets (1-4, 1-3) jumped out of the gate by scoring the day's first seven points. Junior Jake Scheidt (Saxonburg, Pa. / Knoch) canned the game's first shot, which came from three-point range to start the run. Junior Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) and graduate student Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington) followed with two points each to complete the surge.
 
After having its advantage cut to two points at 15-13 4:15 into the contest, Waynesburg put together another 7-0 run to take a team game-high nine-point advantage (22-13). Junior Bryson Wilt (Oakland, Md. / Southern Garrett) started the surge with an old-fashioned three-point play and was followed by two points each from Baker and Popeck.
 
Westminster (5-1, 3-1) brought momentum back its side with a 10-0 run that made the score 23-22 with 3:39 showing on the first-half clock. The stretch run of the opening period featured a handful of lead changes, including a last-second three pointer that gave the Titans a 33-31 edge at halftime.
 
The home team never trailed in the second half, but the Jackets pulled to within a single point at 39-38 4:10 into the half. Nine-straight points from the Titans allowed them to build a 48-38 advantage with 13:10 left to play. Waynesburg counterpunched with seven-straight thanks to five points from Popeck and a Baker field goal.
 
Unfortunately, the Jackets never pulled closer than three points, while Westminster pieced together leads as large as 14 points as the game reached its conclusion.
 
A big reason for the game's final result was a massive discrepancy in free throw shooting. Westminster connected on 20-of-30 tries from the line, while the Jackets converted six of just eight attempts.
 
Popeck tallied a game-high 20 points to pace the Jacket offense. Baker came just two rebounds shy of a double-double after grabbing eight boards and tallying 11 points. Senior guard Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) also scored 11, while Scheidt chipped in nine.
 
The Jackets are back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 30, when they head to Saint Vincent for a PAC matchup. Tipoff against the Bearcats is scheduled for 7 p.m.