LATROBE, Pa. (Jan. 25) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball traveled to Saint Vincent on Wednesday to face one of the hottest teams in the PAC. Prior to their battle with the Yellow Jackets, the Bearcats had the second-longest active winning streak in the league at four games. Despite once again playing without leading scorer Matt Popeck (Washington, Pa. / Washington), the Jackets scored arguably their biggest victory of the season by upsetting the Green and Gold 70-61.
 
The win snapped Waynesburg's (5-13,3-11) five-game losing streak after dropping a pair of hard-fought three-point defeats.
 
The Jacket defense set the tone in the first half by limiting Saint Vincent (11-8, 7-7) to 24 points on eight-of-26 shooting from the floor. That performance included an 0-for-seven showing from three-point range.
 
While the defense was doing its thing, the Jacket offense opened the game on a 13-2 run over the first eight minutes of action. Junior Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) keyed the hot start with eight of those 13 points. A three-pointer by junior Bryson Wilt (Oakland, Md. / Southern Garrett) made the score 5-0. Fellow junior Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) capped the surge with a pair of free throws.
 
Saint Vincent bounced back in front of its home crowd with a 13-4 run that pulled the Bearcats to within two points of tying the score at 17-15 with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half. The Jackets were able to right the ship enough to close out the opening 20 minutes and rebuild a nine-point advantage. After senior Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) knocked down a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining before the break, the Jackets led 33-24.
 
The visitors doubled their advantage (46-28) by outscoring Saint Vincent 13-4 over the first 5:51 of the second period. Felberg, Knotts, Baker and junior Jake Scheidt (Saxonburg, Pa. / Knoch) all scored over the hot start.
 
Waynesburg's defense was able to keep the opposition at bay over the remainder of the contest, as the host squad never got closer than eight points of tying the score.
 
Baker just missed out on a team-leading seventh double-double after posting Waynesburg highs in both points (18) and rebounds (nine). He likely would have accomplished the feat, if not for fouling out after 28 minutes of play. Defensively, he added two blocks and two steals to a very productive night's work
 
Knotts went for 16 points and five rebounds, while Felberg posted 14 points and a game-high three steals. Felberg did the vast majority of his scoring at the free throw line, where he connected on 10-of-12 tries.
 
One kay to the Jacket victory was getting Saint Vincent in foul trouble. By the end of the night, the Bearcats committed 26 fouls and saw three of their own, all starters, foul out. Another determining factor was an unbelievably efficient showing from three-point range. Waynesburg connected on all four of its tries from long range, while the Cats knocked down just one of 14 attempts.
 
The Jackets will try to carry over the momentum from Wednesday night's big victory to a home PAC showdown against Westminster on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.