WAYNESBURG, Pa. (January 8) – Graduate forward Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) scored his 1,000th career point and the Waynesburg University men's basketball team prevailed in overtime, 76-71, over Franciscan in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Wednesday afternoon.

Waynesburg rises to 6-7 overall and 4-4 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play. Franciscan falls to 8-5, 3-5 PAC.

Baker's milestone came via an and-one finish in transition as he scored his 1,000th and 1,001st points as Yellow Jacket. He is the 36th 1,000 point scorer in Waynesburg men's basketball history and the first to achieve the milestone since Matt Popeck in 2021.

Baker's basket and ensuing free throw put Waynesburg up 51-36 with 12 minutes left in regulation. The Barons used an 8-0 run to trim the margin to 61-57 with 3:37. Franciscan its first lead (66-64) since 7:32 left in the first half with a three-pointer with 65 seconds remaining. 

Jalen Goins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) drained a turnaround jumper late in the shot clock to knot the game at 66. The Jacket defense held strong in the final possession of regulation as Franciscan's go-ahead attempt missed the mark. 

Waynesburg outscored the Barons 10-5 in overtime. Baker scored period's firs two field goals and Casey Keesee (Tipp City, Ohio / Bethel) iced the game by going 6-for-6 from the foul line. The Jackets never trailed in the overtime period and secured their first PAC win of the calendar year.

Franciscan scored the first six points of the ballgame and led for most of the first 12-plus minutes of play. Jaylen Davis (Cleveland Heights, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) gave the Jackets a 20-19 lead and Waynesburg closed the half with a 21-8 run. PJ Suggs (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) had eight points in the half of half rally and Davis added six.

Baker finished the day with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Suggs added 17 points and three steals. Davis finished with a dozen points, three rebounds and two steals. 

Goins had eight points and the game-tying basket in the final minute. All seven of Keesee's points came via the foul line, six of which were in overtime. He also collected four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Waynesburg set a season-high for free throws made as the Jackets shot 26-of-38 from the foul line. The Jackets also recorded a season-high with 15 steals and scored 24 points off turnovers. 

The Jackets continue their three-game homestand against Washington & Jefferson on Saturday.