In a fiercely contested game which saw 13 lead changes and 10 ties in 40 minutes of play, Waynesburg lost to Thiel in the last second, 55–52. 

Due to their inability to establish an attacking groove in the first half, neither side was able to establish any separation early on as neither team entered double digits until seven minutes into the first half. 

The game was tied at 12 apiece halfway through the first half of play, and no team led by more than five points in that span.  

After halftime, the Yellow Jackets improved their scoring efficiency and made timely perimeter shots to reduce the gap. To stay within reach the entire time, Waynesburg made five three-pointers in the last twenty minutes and shot 35.7 percent from the floor in the second half. 

Waynesburg was led by junior Jackson Rhodes who had 16 points, who scored three three-pointers, and senior Jalen Goins who scored eight points. Sophomore Demetrius Rivers ended with six points, three assists, and three blocks off the bench, while junior Aiden Blake and senior Casey Keesee each finished with six. 

Thiel scored 26 second-chance points as Waynesburg struggled to complete defensive possessions despite forcing 14 mistakes and scoring 21 points off those errors.  

Head coach Tim Fusina cited rebounding as the critical element after the game. 

“We got out-rebounded by 30, and they had 27 offensive rebounds and more total rebounds than either team had points,” Fusina said. 

Physicality and execution on the glass are ongoing points of emphasis. 

“Everything broke down,” Fusina said. “We were not physical, just stood waiting for the ball to come to us, and didn’t wrap up any possessions. We address it in practice like we have addressed it all season.”  

The team is next in action at Saint Vincent College tomorrow, whom they lost to early in the season, 84-80. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.