WAYNESBURG, Pa. (December 30) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team led for the majority of the day and held off future Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) foe Hiram 78-76 at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Monday.

Waynesburg closes the calendar year with back-to-back wins and sit at 5-6 overall. Hiram falls to 5-7.

The Jackets scored seven of the game's first nine points. A three-point play by PJ Suggs (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) put the Jackets up 17-10 with 12:47 left in the half. Casey Keesee (Tipp City, Ohio / Bethel) came off the Waynesburg bench and scored eight-straight points to push the Jacket lead into double-digits (32-18) with 7:46 to go in the half.

Korey Mitchum's (McHenry, Md. / Southern Garrett (Md.)) three-pointer gave Waynesburg its biggest lead of the day (35-20) before the Terriers closed the period with a 12-2 run over the final 2:10 of the half to narrow the margin to 44-43 at the break.

Hiram went ahead 52-51 seven minutes into the second half. Waynesburg answered with a 13-2 run as Hiram shot 1-for-7 with five turnovers. Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) had six points in the spurt and had a three-point play give the Jackets a 67-57 edge with 6:23 remaining.

Hiram used a four-point possession to draw within a three (73-70) in the final minute. Keesee put the game on ice with a floater and three made foul shots in the final 25 seconds as the Jackets held on for their second-straight win.

Keesee led Waynesburg with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Suggs went for 17 points and had three blocks. Baker finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

The Yellow Jackets shot a season-high 50 percent from the field (30-for-60) and matched a single-game season best with a dozen steals. The Jackets led for 36:28 and only trailed for 64 seconds in the ballgame.

Waynesburg travels to Saint Vincent on Saturday for a 6 p.m. tipoff.