GREENVILLE, Pa. (Jan. 13) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team traveled north to Thiel on Saturday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup. The Yellow Jackets got out to a fast start, but it wasn't enough to drive the visitors to victory, as the Tomcats defended their home court in a 72-64 contest.
 
Waynesburg (7-8, 4-6) senior forward Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) opened the game with back-to-back field goals. Junior guard Jordan McLoyd (Johnson City, Tenn. / Science Hill) added the afternoon's first 3-pointer to complete a 7-0 run, which was also the Jackets' biggest lead of the contest.
 
Thiel (5-11, 4-7) countered by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to take the lead at 11-9. The Jackets moved back ahead with four points – two from Baker and two from senior guard Bryson Wilt (Oakland, Md. / Southern Garrett) – and set off a stretch of eight lead changes over the final 11 minutes of the opening period.
 
A pair of free throws from graduate student Ryan Felberg (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) tied the score at 33 with six seconds remaining in the half. However, a buzzer-beating put-back by Thiel allowed the home team to take a 35-33 edge into the locker room.
 
After a tightly contested first 20 minutes, the Tomcats controlled the second half and never trailed while building up leads as large as 10 points throughout the remainder of the game. The Jackets pulled to within four points (68-64) with 42 seconds showing on the clock, but Thiel was able to bury all four of their attempts at the foul line to close out the victory.
 
Sophomore Scott Bilovus (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) gave the Jackets a tremendous boost off the bench by tallying a team-high 15 points on three-of-six shooting from the floor, all of which came from beyond the 3-point arc. Bilovus also went a perfect six-for-six from the charity stripe over just 11 minutes on the floor.
 
Baker added 13 points and seven rebounds on the day, while senior Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) chipped in 10 points. Junior Jaylen Davis (Cleveland Heights, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) paced the Jackets on the glass with a game-high nine rebounds and a contest-best three steals.
 
Waynesburg is next in action on Wednesday, Jan. 17, when it plays host to Westminster to open the second half of its PAC schedule. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.