Feb 6, 2005 By Jeff Debaldo For The 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The first time Waynesburg and Washington & Jefferson met this year the game ended in a triple-overtime thriller with the Yellow Jackets able to come away victorious in Washington. Saturday night was almost as good a thriller for Waynesburg.

Jeff Nero missed an NBA-range 3-pointer and the Yellow Jackers were not able finish with a come-from-behind win as the Presidents won, 71-69.

With the loss the Jackets dropped to 8-13 overall and 2-4 in the Presidents Athletic Conference.

“The guy who shot the ball (Nero) was the guy we were going to,” said Yellow Jacket head coach Frank Ferraro. “He was the hot hand.”

Nero indeed did have a hot hand as he connected on five of his 3-point attempts, except for his game-winning attempt. He scored a team-high 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting and also added seven rebounds.

“Jeff’s been a big contributor,” said Yellow Jacket guard Beau Wilson, who chipped in with 15 points and three assists. “He just plays like he knows how to.”

Waynesburg played an uncharacteristic first half. The Jackets turned the ball over 11 times and were not quite able to find their groove as the Presidents were able to take a 28-22 lead at the half.

“I think we got into an up-tempo game,” Ferraro said. “The tempo in the first half was not conducive for us to play.”

Ferraro used a full court man-to-man press to try to take the Presidents out of their comfort zone. The Yellow Jackets were able to force seven second-half turnovers and got themselves right back into the game after trailing by as many as 15 with just over 13 minutes remaining.

“We had to play with a little bit of urgency down 15,” Wilson said. “I think we play better when we play 55 full-court man-to-man press.”

The Jackets found themselves in a tight situation midway through the second half. They were staring down a double-digit deficit and needed a rally to get back in the game. That’s when Ferraro brought in the second team.

Led by Nero and sophomore Chris Moore, an Albert Gallatin graduate, the Jackets used a barrage of three pointers and were able to cut a Presidents 15-point lead down to just six after Moore drained a 3-pointer with 10:22 left.

“It pumped the first team up,” Wilson said.

After Nero made 1-of-2 free throws, Waynesburg found itself down three at 59-56 with 4:08 left. W&J was able to get the lead back up to six with just under 2:00 to play.

Wilson was then able get cut the deficit to only two after he hit a free throw with 42 seconds left. The hot hand of Nero was able to tie the game up at 69 with a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to go.

The Presidents were able to take a 71-69 lead after two free throws from Brandon Studer. He scored a game-high 23 on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. That set up the deciding moment in the game.

“He (Nero) was certainly the guy we were going to go to,” said Ferraro. “He just wasn’t able to make the shot. He’ll make it again. I’m sure.”