BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College men's basketball team was in need of a victory on Saturday night against a Waynesburg Yellow Jacket squad that was coming in playing well, and in a game that was tight throughout, junior Ethan Moose (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) came up with 18 big points in leading the Golden Tornadoes to an 83-75 victory.  Geneva improved to 4-4, 2-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), while Waynesburg fell to 3-6, 2-2 in the PAC.

Despite playing without leading scorer Matt Popeck, Waynesburg was coming off an impressive road victory at Westminster on Wednesday against a Titans team that was picked second in the PAC, so Geneva knew it would have its hands full, and it proved that way for most of the game. 

The game was a tight affair early, as neither team led by more than one possession for the first 12 minutes of action.  Tied at 16-16, Geneva scored six quick points to take a 22-16 lead.  Waynesburg was able to fight back, though, and tied the game at 28-28 with three minutes remaining in the half.  In what would prove to be a key stretch in the game, though, Geneva closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 34-28 lead into the break.  Moose led the offense with eight points in the half.

The Golden Tornadoes picked up right where they left off coming out of the break, scoring six more quick points to make the run 12-0 and give Geneva a 40-28 lead less than a minute into the half.  The Yellow Jackets began to get into a rhythm offensively, though, and it took Waynesburg just three minutes to cut the Geneva lead all the way back down to two points, 46-44.  In what would prove to be a game of runs, Geneva answered back with one of its own, 9-1, to stretch the lead back out to double digits, 55-45, with 13 minutes remaining.

Waynesburg would keep within striking distance, though.  Over the next eight minutes, the Geneva lead fluctuated between five and nine points until seven quick Yellow Jacket points cut the lead to 73-72 with four minutes remaining.  Geneva answered one last time with an 8-3 run, with six straight points coming from Moose, to make it 81-75 with just over one minute remaining, and Geneva would hold on for the 83-75 win.

"It was a great win for us," said Head Coach Jeff Santarsiero.  "Any win in the conference is big, especially this year when the league is so wide open.  Honestly, anyone could win this league with as tight as it is.  Every night is going to be a battle.  I loved our intensity from the start, and I was happy with our hustle and poise down the stretch.  Every time Waynesburg made a run, we responded.  We have one game left before the break, and then the players and the coaches can take a little time off to recharge and come back ready for the second semester."

Moose led a very balanced attack against Waynesburg with this 18 points.  Sophomore Nick Rusyn (Salem, Ohio/Salem) added 15 points, while Eric McGee also scored in double figures with 14.  Seniors David Oliver (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) and Danny Torok (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) each contributed nine points.  Geneva really hurt Waynesburg on the offensive glass, as 20 Golden Tornado offensive rebounds led to 24 second-chance points, compared to just four from Waynesburg.  Geneva also outscored Waynesburg in the paint, 54-28.  The Yellow Jackets were led by Frank Bozicevic who finished with a game-high 23 points.

Geneva hosts Hiram College next Saturday, December 15, at 2:30 p.m. for its final game before break.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 80 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.