GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team defeated the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 86-79 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action Wednesday night at Beeghly Gymnasium.
 
The Tomcats benefited from a fast start, getting out to a 16-2 run to start the game with 13:54 remaining in the first half. The Yellow Jackets then went on a run late in the first half to take the lead 37-33 with 1:30 left in the first half.
 
After gaining the lead at the end of the first half on a buzzer-beating layup by Mert Ozkaynak (Izmir, Turkey/T.C. Williams), the Tomcats controlled the second half, hitting 17 free throws during the second half and shooting 56 percent from the field.
 
Five Tomcats notched double-digit point totals led by Luke Kochka (Monroeville, Pa. /Gateway). Kochka scored 21 points, 15 of which came in the second half. He also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists.
 
Clandell Cetoute (Wellington, Fla./Wellington) recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He also blocked four shots and handed out four assists.
 
Khari Bess (Waldorf, Md./Maurice J. McDonough) filled the stat sheet with 16 points, five steals, five assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Avril Campbell (Dumfries, Va./Potomac) was a rebound away from a double-double, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds.  Ozkaynak scored 13 points and came up with four rebounds off the bench.
 
B.J. Ritchie led the Yellow Jackets with 15 points while D.J. Ritchie had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Tomcats will be back in action Saturday afternoon when they take on the Grove City Wolverines in a Mercer County matchup. Tip-off will follow the women's game at 3 p.m. You can watch the action live on the PAC Sports Network.