News Release

BETHANY, W.Va. — Waynesburg had first-place Bethany tied at halftime, but could not pull ahead losing 74-65 on the road in Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s basketball action on Wednesday night.

Bethany (16-6, 6-1 PAC) jumped to a 20-3 lead seven minutes into the game, before the Jackets staged a comeback capped off by three pivotal field goals by freshman guard Jeff Nero. Nero sank a three-pointer with six minutes left in the half to pull the Jackets within two points at 28-26, then drove baseline for a lay-up with just over a minute later to tie game at 30. His three-pointer with 4:02 remaining in the half gave Waynesburg its first lead of the game, 33-30.

Nero led Waynesburg (8-14, 2-5 PAC) with a game-high 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 6 from three-point range. He also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Junior center Phil McLaughlin was the only other Jacket to score in double figures with 15 points.

The Bison pulled ahead taking a five-point lead later in the first half, but again the Jackets relinquished their leads in the waning moments on a three-pointer by Ryan Bujnowski, 40-38, and Bethany answered forcing a tie score at halftime.

By the midpoint of the second half, Bethany forged ahead to a 10-point lead when Matt Drahos fed brother Mike Drahos with a pass for a lay-up. Matt Drahos led the Bison with 18 points and 14 rebounds, all of which on the defensive end. Mike Drahos, James Wallace and Josh Polantz all pitched in with 13 points apiece.

Bethany would hold the 10-point cushion until Nero hit a three-pointer with two minutes remaining cutting the Bison lead to 66-59. The seven-point deficit would be as close as the Jackets would get.

Waynesburg’s leading scorer and only senior guard Mike King was held scoreless for the second time this season, after scoring 21 points in Waynesburg’s previous meeting with Bethany.

The Jackets, fourth place in the PAC, return to action on Saturday when they visit Westminster for a 3 p.m. tipoff.