GREENVILLE, PA– The first time Waynesburg played Thiel this season, it was a close game until the Yellow Jackets [4-10, 4-19] pulled away from the Tomcats [5-9, 6-15] in the second half at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The Jackets came out on top 76-64 in the fourth game of the Jackets’ four-game win streak. Waynesburg looks to end a seven-game losing streak on the season this Wednesday in its second meeting against Thiel, this one in Greenville, PA. 

Coach Tim Fusina said the Tomcats are a big and strong team that wants to get inside the paint.

“They want to drive it; they want to get inside and score that way,” Fusina said. “We are going to have to contest all their shots, and we are going to have to work for our shots. They are very physical”. 

Thiel is on a four-game losing streak. Last game, the Tomcats lost to first-place Grove City 60-57. Senior Waynesburg guard Frank Bozicevic, who had 26 points in the first meeting against Thiel, said the Jackets need to find consistency over these last two regular-season games.

“Throughout the year, we have played in games where we go on really good runs, then we aren’t able to sustain those runs,” Bozicevic said. “The key is to play a whole game like we are going on a long run as in previous games.”

Boxing out is key

The Tomcats lead the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in offensive rebounding. In the first matchup, however, Waynesburg outrebounded the statistical leaders. Thiel averages 43 rebounds per game, while the Jackets are at the bottom of the list with 31 per game. 

“Going in, we know rebounding is a key emphasis,” Bozicevic said. “If we are able to keep them off the offensive glass, we will have a good chance at winning the game.”

Blocking the paint

Another focus of the game will be if Waynesburg can keep Thiel from scoring in the paint. The Tomcats scored 36 points in the paint in the first game against the Jackets.

Overall, however, Waynesburg held its own defensively, holding Thiel to 64 points. 

“What we worked on was our attention to detail on defense [last matchup]. We had a special defensive game plan going into the game, which was then translated well,” Bozicevic said. 

Sealing the deal

Waynesburg is eighth in the PAC, with eight of nine teams qualifying for playoffs. The Jackets are currently one game ahead of last place Bethany. The next two games, one of which is against the Bison Saturday, have high stakes for the Jackets. 

“We can potentially get the seventh seed instead of the eighth seed,” Bozicevic said. “It is huge knowing we have the chance to fight for a spot with Bethany, who is right behind us.”

To get that seventh seed, Waynesburg must beat Bethany, a team it lost to earlier in the season who has the potential to knock the Jackets out of the playoff picture. Waynesburg will host that game Saturday. 

Tonight’s game at Thiel is scheduled for 7:30.