WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 21) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team took on Bethany at home in a Presidents' Athletic Conference matchup Wednesday evening. The Yellow Jackets showed heart as they battled back from a 21-point second-half deficit, but they were unable to complete the comeback and fell 85-77 to the Bison.
 
Less than four minutes into the game, Bethany (7-9, 3-4) jumped out to an early 11-2 lead over the Yellow Jackets (6-10, 2-5). A minute later, junior guard Aiden Blake (Parkersburg, W.Va. / Parkersburg South) cut the deficit to four by putting up five-straight points to make it 11-7. The visitors responded with eight-straight points to rebuild a double-digit lead at 19-7.
 
Over the next 13 minutes, the Yellow Jackets took over and went on a 23-11 run to tie the game at 30 with less than two minutes to go until halftime. Blake took center stage in knotting up that score by contributing 11 of those 23 points.
 
Once again, the Bison answered the Jacket challenge and scored eight of the final 12 points of the opening period to take a 38-34 lead into halftime. Blake led the charge in the first half for the Yellow Jackets with 18 points. Junior guard Jackson Rhodes (Christchurch, NeZealand / St. Andrews College) helped out with nine.
 
Bethany got off to another strong start, this time in half number two, and surged ahead 74-53.
 
Once again, the Jackets stood tall in the face of a challenge and cut their deficit down to 74-62 with four minutes left in the contest. The run continued, much to the delight of the raucous home crowd, as that deficit shrunk down to just a handful of points (78-73) with one minute showing on the clock.
 
Unfortunately, Bethany was able to stop the bleeding and keep Waynesburg at bay for the victory.
 
Blake finished as Waynesburg's leading scorer with 23 points, which is also a personal collegiate best. Rhodes added 19 points and senior guard Casey Keesee (Tipp City, Ohio / Bethel) was also a significant contributor with 15 points.
 
Waynesburg is back at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 24, with another PAC contest against Westminster. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., but with the threat of inclement weather in the forecast, that time is subject to change.