HAMBURG, N.Y. (Nov. 8) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team showed its resolve during Saturday's championship game of the Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament, which was hosted by Hilbert. Trailing St. John Fisher by 14 at halftime, the Yellow Jackets roared back in the second half to send the game into overtime, where they edged the Cardinals 75-73 to take the title.
 
Thanks to its run to the championship, Waynesburg is off to its first 2-0 start since the 2013-14 campaign.
 
The Jackets never led in the first half and trailed 43-29 at the break.
 
That deficit grew to 16 points (48-32) 3:32 into the second period. However, the Orange and Black was just about ready to go on a game-changing run. With the Cardinals (1-1) leading 50-35, Waynesburg used a 12-0 run to cut its deficit down to a single field goal at 50-47. Four  different Jackets scored in the surge that lasted until 8:48 into the half, when St. John Fisher dropped in a layup.
 
The Cardinals rebuild leads as large as eight points, but Waynesburg never let the game get out of hand as it approached the end of regulation. The Jackets finally took their first lead (69-68) of the contest with 1:07 showing on the clock thanks to a three pointer by senior Jalen Goins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown).
 
However, it looked like St. John Fisher might snatch the victory away as they went to the free throw line with just 23 seconds showing on the clock. After a successful attempt on the first shot, Waynesburg caught a break with a miss and senior Casey Keesee (Tipp City, Ohio / Bethel) grabbed the defensive rebound.
 
The Cardinals stole the ball away with two seconds left to play, but after a last-second three-point attempt missed the mark, the contest went to overtime with the score tied 69-69.
 
Waynesburg never trailed in the extra period as it got back-to-back layups by Keesee and junior Jackson Rhodes (Christchurch, New Zealand / St. Andrews College). Both teams struggled from the floor and the charity stripe from that point forward and scored a combined six points over the final 3:40 of the contest.
 
But, when the dust had settled and the final horn had blown, the Jackets were the ones who got to celebrate a tournament title.
 
Senior Scott Bilovus (Imperial, Pa. / West Allegheny) led the offensive charge for Waynesburg by pouring in a game-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting. He was particularly potent from three-point range, where he set game highs in both attempts (9) and makes (5)
 
Goins joined him in double digits with 11 points before fouling out following 27 minutes on the court. Keesee chipped in 10 points to the winning effort, while Rhodes added nine points and a game-high seven rebounds.
 
Following their championship win, Rhodes and Bilovus were named to the all-tournament team.
 
After spending the weekend in the Empire State, Waynesburg will play its first home game of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, Nov. 11, when it hosts Penn State New Kensington at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.