Game #18
Franciscan (13-4 | 5-3 PAC) vs. Waynesburg (6-11 | 2-6 PAC) 
Wednesday, Jan. 28th | 6:00 p.m.  
Finnegan Fieldhouse | Steubenville, OH  

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The Latest
- The Barons got back in the win column with a 68-53 performance over Thiel in a game that they never trailed
- Anthony Covetta was the standout, scoring 16 points and sinking three shots from three-point range
- Malachi Rose-Burton had his best game of the season, scoring 12 points on perfect 4-4 shooting and 2-2 from the three-point line, also adding a team-high seven rebounds
- The Barons return home on Wednesday to host Waynesburg for their second matchup this season

Look Around the League


Scouting the Yellow Jackets
- Waynesburg comes into this matchup 6-11 overall, with a 2-6 conference record
- The Yellow Jackets are on a two-game losing streak
- They have the ninth-best offense in the PAC at 68.5 points per game
- They also have the second-worst defense in the PAC, giving up 78.3 points per game
- Jackson Rhodes leads the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game and is second in rebounding with 4.5 per game
- He is also third in the PAC in free-throw percentage at 82.4%

Matchup History
- The Barons are 4-13 all-time against the Yellow Jackets
- After losing the first nine matchups, the Barons are 4-4 in the last eight dating back to 2022
- Since joining the PAC, the Barons are 4-6
- The Barons won 81-63 in the first matchup this season at Waynesburg
- In that game, Sawyer Butler led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds

With a Win
- The Barons would clinch their second consecutive winning season.
- They would secure a tiebreaker over Waynesburg by sweeping the PAC south foe.
- They would be one shy of last year's win total with seven more regular-season contests.
- It would be Coach Joe Wallace's 91st win at Franciscan.

Top of the Line
- The Barons are among the best in the PAC in several categories this season
- They have the second-best offense at 81.6 points per game
- Their scoring margin is a conference-leading +9.6
- They are second in three-point percentage at 35.3% and are holding opponents to a PAC-lowest 26.4%
- They have the third most three-pointers made overall with 147
- They are third in team rebounding with 39.1 per game
- Their turnover margin is second in the conference at +4.59, and their assist-turnover ratio is third-best at 1.10

Zach Attack
- Zach Oliver has been one of the most consistent contributors for the Barons this season
- He is averaging 13.2 points per game, which is second among the Barons and top-20 in the PAC
- The junior is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game on the season, which is first in the PAC
- He is also third on the team in three-pointers and second in three-point percentage at 38.5%
- He has scored double-figures in 11 of his 15 games played and leads the team with five double-doubles

Big Time Butler
- Sawyer Butler has scored 20+ points in 30 games so far in his collegiate career. He has scored 30+ points seven times.
- He became the second Baron to eclipse 40 points in a game with 49 at Juniata, joining Sean Hickey '22, who did it in the 2020-21 season
- He sits 8th with 1,264 points on the all-time scoring ranks that go back to 1947. He trails Dan Rogich '79 with 1,394 points for 7th.
- Butler broke the program record for most free throws made by a Baron. He sits at 377 makes while shooting 84.2% for his career.
- His 24.5 points per game would be the highest ever single-season average by a Baron
- He leads the PAC and is currently seventh in all of Division III in scoring.
- With 125 made three-pointers, he has moved into third all-time, trailing Keoni Sablan '18 with 133

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