WAYNESBURG, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's basketball team never trailed Wednesday night as the Wolverines concluded their Presidents' Athletic Conference schedule with a 77-65 win over host Waynesburg at Rudy Marisa Field House. 

Senior guard Justice Rice (Monessen, Pa./Monessen) paced Grove City with 18 points while senior backcourt partner Erik Meiners (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) tossed in 11 points, including three three-pointers. Junior guard Isaac Thrasher (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) added 10 points. Twelve Grove City men scored in the victory.

Grove City led 37-25 at halftime but Waynesburg (3-6) cut the lead to 51-49 with 11:36 left in the second half. However, Grove City reclaimed control of the game with a 9-0 run. Rice and Thrasher sparked the run with consecutive layups. Rice then scored in transition and followed with a three-pointer, giving the Wolverines a 60-49 lead. 

Waynesburg whittled the lead back to 67-60 with three minutes remaining. A putback by senior forward Joe Meola (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) and a Rice three-pointer snuffed out the Yellow Jackets' comeback.

Grove City shot 62 percent (16 of 26) from the field in the second half. For the game, Grove City went 29 of 57 (51 percent) on field goals. Waynesburg finished 26 of 55 (47 percent).

Rice pulled in seven rebounds and sophomore forward Elijah White (Zelienople, Pa./Portersville Christian) had six rebounds, helping Grove City own a 37-25 edge on the glass. Freshman forward Luca Robinson (Castaic, Calif./Hart) tallied three assists. 

Matt Popeck led Waynesburg with 39 points. 

Grove City will be the No. 4 seed in next week's conference tournament. The Wolverines will have six days for rest and recovery before hosting No. 5 Chatham (5-4) in the tournament quarterfinals next Tuesday, March 16. Grove City defeated Chatham, 69-56, February 17.