Slow first half shutters Men’s Basketball at Waynesburg

WAYNESBURG, Pa. --- Carlow University men's basketball lost a 68-55 contest to Waynesburg University on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Celtics (1-6) sank seven treys and outscored the Yellow Jackets 23-15 off the bench, but Waynesburg (3-4) held almost all of Carlow's players to single-digit points.

Riley Comforti (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland HS) led the Celtics with 10 points, two assists and two steals, while Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out two assists in the effort.

A three-pointer from Comforti put Carlow ahead 14-7 early in the first half. A layup by the Jackets broke an almost two minute scoring draught, tying the game at 14-all and setting off a 17-2 run for Waynesburg that spanned over seven minutes, as the Celtics trailed 37-25 at the intermission.

The Jackets maintained a steady double-digit lead over the Celtics the entire second half, and seven of Waynesburg's nine points the final three minutes of the game came from foul shots.

Carlow scored 17 points off 16 Jackets turnovers, and Waynesburg held a narrow 36-32 rebounding margin over the Celtics. Both teams shot 72.7 percent from the foul line, but the Carlow sent Waynesburg there more often, where they shot 16 for 22.

Antone Baker led the Jackets with a game-high 19 points. Jalen Goins recorded 14 points, and PJ Suggs added 10.

The Celtics open Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action with a 7 p.m. game at Pitt Greensburg Dec. 18.