The Waynesburg University men’s basketball team was seeking its eighth conference win this past Saturday in Steubenville, Ohio.

The Yellow Jackets took the first matchup against the Franciscan University Barons at home 75-67 back on Dec. 4, 2021.

This time, however, the host squad came out on top to defeat Waynesburg 84-74 at Finnegan Fieldhouse.

“When the bell rings, you gotta answer,” Waynesburg head coach Tim Fusina said. “We didn’t do our jobs today.”  

It all started from tipoff.

The Barons pressed the Yellow Jackets heavily right from the get-go, forcing three turnovers on the first three possessions for Waynesburg.

This led Franciscan to get out to a fast 9-0 start.

“Franciscan followed their game plan very well,” graduate student forward Nijon Kirkman said. “It threw us off for just a quick second.”

 Later in the half, the Yellow Jackets were able to tie the ballgame at 28 apiece after sophomore guard Jake Scheidt hit two free throws.

Waynesburg had the last basket of the first half when Kirkman hit a jumper in the paint, but the lead was 40-34 for the Barons.

A layup to start the second half by sophomore forward Jansen Knotts put the Yellow Jackets within four.

 Franciscan, however, grew its lead to 12 after an 8-0 run.

The closest that Waynesburg came to the Barons in the second half was after a three pointer from senior guard Matt Popeck to make it 59-56.

The turnovers from Waynesburg, which ended up being 15, and shooting from Franciscan, however, could not be overcome as the Yellow Jackets took their fourth conference loss of the season.

“We had trouble guarding the ball, especially in the second half,” Fusina said. “Our game plan was to keep the ball out of the paint and contest shots, but we didn’t.”

Both teams found their strengths from the inside. Waynesburg shot 44% from the field while Franciscan shot 46%.

Popeck and Kirkman both posted a double-double in the contest.

 Popeck went for 23 points and 13 rebounds. Kirkman also put up 23 points along with hauling in 11 boards.

The game’s highest scorer came from the Barons as redshirt sophomore Josh Zimmerman had 24 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 11-of-19 from the field.

Even though the Yellow Jackets were defeated, the vision for them is forward.

“Everybody does lose,” Kirkman said. “Basketball is a sport where it’s one game, you’re done. After that game, you gotta forget about it.”

Waynesburg returns to the hardwood as the calendar turns to February.

Thiel College is the next opponent on the schedule for the Yellow Jackets. They travel north to Greenville, Pa. on Wednesday, Feb. 2 to face the Tomcats at 7:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on WCYJ-FM, 99.5 The Hive with Austin Bechtold and Alex Hughes on the call.