WAYNESBURG, Pa. (December 7) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team led by nine at the half but was defeated 70-59 by Allegheny at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

Waynesburg falls to 3-6 on the season and 2-3 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play. Allegheny improves to 2-5, 1-3 PAC. 

The Yellow Jackets made their first seven foul shots of the game and built an 11-5 lead over the first seven-plus minutes of the contest. The Gators narrowed the margin to 15-13 before Waynesburg answered with an 11-3 run. Jalen Goins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) hit a pair of jumpers, Jaylen Davis (Cleveland Heights, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) added two baskets and Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) capped the spurt with a driving layup to put the Jackets up 26-16.

Waynesburg made five fouls shots in the final 3:22 of the half to carry a 33-24 lead into the halftime break.

The Jackets led by as many as 11 (35-24) early in the second half before Allegheny made three three-pointers run to narrow the margin to 37-36 with 14:35 to play. Waynesburg stretched its lead back to seven (47-40) by the midway point of the second half. 

The Gators outscored Waynesburg 30-12 over the final 10 minutes of the ballgame to escape with their first league win. Allegheny shot 7-of-11 from the field, 3-for-5 from three and 13-of-14 from the foul line during the final 10 minutes of play.

Three more three-pointers by the Gators put Allegheny in front 51-50 with seven minutes left. Korey Mitchum (McHenry, Md. / Southern Garrett (Md.)) tied the game at 53 with a three and drained another to keep the Jackets within three (59-56). Allegheny's made 11-straight foul shots over the final 3:31 of game time to secure the conference victory.

PJ Suggs (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) led Waynesburg with 15 points, five rebounds and two assists. Davis added 11 points and 12 rebounds. Mitchum finished with 10 points and four boards. Baker had seven points and collected 12 rebounds and three steals.

Waynesburg had 24 offensive rebounds and held a 45-30 edge on the glass but Allegheny had a 10-9 advantage in second chance points. The Gators shot 20-of-24 from the charity stripe while Waynesburg finished 17-for-26.

The Jackets take on Westminster on Dec. 16.