WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 21) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team hosted Bethany for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The Yellow Jackets led for the vast majority of the game, but for a second-straight time, they suffered late-game heart break, as the Bison pulled out a 61-58 win.
 
Despite playing without an injured Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington), who came into the day as the number-four scorer in the PAC (17.6 ppg.), Waynesburg (4-13, 2-11) built a 15-8 lead after the first 9:18 of action. Four different Jackets scored during the strong start. Junior Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights), junior Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort), sophomore Trevon Ridley (Murrieta, Calif. / Vista Murrieta) and freshman Scott Bilovus (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) all found the bottom of the hoop during the run.
 
The Waynesburg advantage grew to as many as 13 points (29-16) when Ridley canned a three pointer with 2:33 remaining in the first half. The Jacket defense concluded a fantastic first 20 minutes by holding Bethany  to just 19 points, as Waynesburg took a 12-point lead into halftime.
 
The flow of the game took a noticeable turn in the second period, as the Bison (2-16, 2-11) used a 16-4 run to tie the game (35-35) for the first time since it was 6-6. Junior Jake Scheidt (Saxonburg, Pa. / Knoch) gave his team the lead back with a two-point field goal.
 
The home team led or was tied with Bethany until the final 5:04 of the game, when a three pointer put the Bison ahead 54-53. Knotts tied the score up three times over the stretch run. His last field goal with 19 seconds showing on the game clock made the score 58-58.
 
Roughly 15 seconds later, the visitors got the eventual game-winning trey of the day. Waynesburg had a chance to tie things back up and send the game into overtime, but a last-second shot from downtown was off the mark.
 
With Popeck out, Baker and Knotts shouldered the bulk of the offensive load by scoring 18 and 15 points, respectively. Baker just missed out on a third-straight double-double by grabbing nine rebounds. He also tied for the game lead with three blocks. Scheidt passed out a squad-best four assists.
 
The game was ultimately decided from long range, where Bethany connected on 10-of-23 attempts. The Jackets were successful on just five-of-15 three pointers. Conversely, Waynesburg was the far more productive team at the free throw line, where it converted 15-of-21 attempts. The Bison, on the other hand, knocked down just five-of-10 tries.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 25, when it travels to Saint Vincent. The Jackets tip off against the Bearcats at 7 p.m.