HUNTINGDON, Pa. (March 2) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team traveled to Juniata for the first round of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament on Wednesday night. Once again playing without first-team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) guard Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington), the Yellow Jackets saw their season come to a close with a 55-45 loss to the Eagles.
 
Juniata (16-11) used the first 3:36 to build an 8-2 lead. Waynesburg (14-14) answered with an 8-0 run capped by a Nijon Kirkman (Cleveland, Ohio / John Hay) layup that put the visitors ahead 10-8. That surge was a microcosm of how the defense-heavy game played out, as the two teams combined for those four field goals over almost eight minutes of play.
 
After its long scoring drought, Juniata answered back with a game-tying layup in its ensuing possession. The two teams battled back-and-forth down the stretch of the first half, but a 5-0 run by the Eagles just before the break allowed them to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.
 
Unfortunately for Waynesburg, Juniata took firm control of the contest in the early portion of the second period, thanks to a 17-5 run that lasted 7:15 and grew the host squad's advantage to 41-22. Waynesburg scored the final eight points of the game to bring about its final score.
 
Kirkman led the way for Waynesburg with a game-high 15 points. He added a team-high six rebounds and a contest-best three steals to his night's work. Sophomore forwards Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) and Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) chipped in six points each.