Box Score
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 13) - The Waynesburg University men's basketball team put forth a gritty effort on Wednesday night as they were able to down visiting Saint Vincent by the final score of 58-56.
The Jackets (2-11) opened up a 34-30 halftime lead that they were able to stretch to as many as seven in the second period. The Bearcats (5-10) had a chance to send the game into overtime, but a last-second shot by Stephon Berry failed to find the mark.
After Saint Vincent scored the game’s first points on a lay up, Waynesburg responded by going on an 11-1 run that led to an 11-3 advantage for the home team. That eight-point lead was the largest for either team.
Both teams battled hard throughout the first 20 minutes of play and Saint Vincent was able to grab a three-point lead (25-22) with just under five minutes to go before halftime. However, as they did at the start of the period, the Yellow Jackets put together a productive scoring run and grab the lead. Waynesburg out-scored their opponents 12-5 to take a three-point lead to the locker room.
The intense competition between the two squads continued during the final 20 minutes of action, with both teams earning multiple leads. Trailing 54-53 with just over two minutes left in regulation, senior Ryan Courneen dropped in a lay up to put his team ahead 55-54. Roughly 30 seconds later, freshman Kurt Bonnet dropped in a two-pointer that pushed the advantage to 57-54.
From there, the Jackets were able to hold off a late surge by the Bearcats that included Berry’s missed shot at the end of the game.
Waynesburg was led by freshman point guard Ben Altmeyer, who tallied a team-high 13 points in the victory. Junior Steven Iser and Courneen added nine points each in the win. The Bearcats got a terrific effort from junior B.J. McGill, who poured in a game-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the floor. He also ripped down a game-high nine rebounds.
The Jackets get back into Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Saturday, Jan. 16, with a home game against Washington & Jefferson.