The Waynesburg men’s basketball team won its season opener against Hilbert College 75-69 in the Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament, with junior guard Jackson Rhodes leading in scoring with 23 points.  

“We had an all-around game for the team; each guy contributed in their role significantly,” Rhodes said. “We played our offense the right way and found the open guy.”  

Rhodes set up his scoring by shooting outside the three-point line, which helped him get downhill to be in scoring positions.  

As a team, the Yellow Jackets shot 49.1% from the field while also shooting 52.9% from three. They also committed only 10 turnovers, while forcing Hilbert College to commit 14 turnovers. 

“Communication, playing hard, following our defensive schemes, and pressuring the ball,” Rhodes said. 

In the first half belonged to Hilbert College, as they controlled the entire first half, with the largest lead being 12. Hilbert had a lead in the entire first half until the final 14 seconds of the half, when senior guard Grant Barnhart hit a three to take the lead, ending the half 43-42. 

“They came out, hit a few shots early, but we just stayed composed. We knew it was going to be a long one,” junior guard Mikey Smith said. “Once we locked in defensively and played our way on the other end, everything opened up for us. We trust each other, and that energy kind of flipped the game.”  

The second half was a close battle with Waynesburg and Hilbert; both teams trading baskets back and forth.  

Waynesburg seemed to have control when they officially pulled away around the two-minute mark to go up by six points. Senior Scott Bilovus hit one free throw and missed the other, making the final score 75-69. 

Smith knows winning the season opener doesn’t define how your season will go  

“It’s just about staying consistent. We can’t get too high or too low, just keep the same focus and effort every night,” Smith said. “One out of 25 games doesn’t define the season, so we’ll keep building and try to get better each game.”  

Waynesburg plays again on Nov. 8 against St. John Fisher University at 3 p.m. in the Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament.