Men's Basketball: Bison stung by Yellow Jackets

Drew VonScio, Student Assistant for Athletic Communications 

BETHANY, WV – After coming up just short Tuesday night against Washington and Jefferson, Bethany men's basketball looked to build on their performance today following the ceremony that dedicated the court to alumni Joe Kurey. Waynesburg chose to play spoiler as they went on to defeat Bethany 76-61.

Junior guard Brendan Riggs got the Bison on the board a minute and 25 seconds into the first half with a three-pointer that gave the Green and White a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately for the hosts, that was the only time they saw themselves in front for the duration of the contest. Waynesburg proceeded to go on a 13-2 run which saw the Bison quickly burn a timeout. After the Yellow Jackets tacked on five more points, Bethany got the ball rolling by scoring eight consecutive points. Two shots from outside the arc by sophomore Chance Wells and freshman Troy Hixson further kickstarted the offense as the Bison fought back to tie the game 29-29 with just three minutes to go in the opening frame. Waynesburg went on an 8-0 run to close out the half and go into the break on top 37-29.

The Yellow Jackets weren't done there as they came storming onto the court in the second half and went on an 11-2 run not even three minutes into the second stanza. That run was enough for the visitors to never look back as the long ball was working through much of the game. Bethany used some spurts of momentum to pull within 11 points on various occasions, but they could not cut the lead down to single digits or gain any traction towards pulling off a come-from-behind victory.

Wells led the Green and White with 18 points as he continues his strong start to the season. Hixson took his game one notch higher off of the bench with a new collegiate-high 13 points, a tick above the number he produced against the Presidents. Freshman Cole Dailey was also in double-digits with 12, but the storyline in this contest was the Bison being outrebounded 43-23 and being edged 19-5 on second chance points.

Bethany is back in action Tuesday, Nov. 22 when they go on the road for the first time this season in conference play and take on the Allegheny College Gators. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.