THROUGH CONTACT — Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Sawyer Butler attempts a shot through contact against Hiram College Saturday. The Barons won on Kuzma Community Day to improve to 15-4. - Andrew Grimm

As his team has continued to stack victories, that goal has started to look like a very real possibility.

The Barons stacked another win to their conference total on Saturday, improving to 15-4 overall and 7-3 in President’s Athletic Conference play with a 68-55 win over Hiram College Saturday inside the Finnegan Fieldhouse.

“Another conference win at home and they’re all massive,” FUS head coach Joe Wallace said.

The victory on their home floor improved the Barons to 8-1 on Kuza Court this season, the lone loss being to perennial PAC power Washington and Jefferson in overtime.

Monroe Central grad and former East District Player of the Year Malachi Rose-Burton shoots a contested shot for Franciscan on Saturday. - Andrew Grimm

“We only have one loss here, and that was in overtime, so we wanna get back here for the conference tournament, the higher seed hosts in our conference, so it would be big for us to do that,” Wallace said.

Franciscan’s 15-4 start is its best since the 1972-73 season. They are 7-3 in conference play and tied for second in the PAC South Division.

“Our best start since the early 70s, man,” Wallace said. “It’s been a lot of work. We’ve got a great coaching staff. We have great players. That’s all it comes down to, we’ve got a lot of good people around here. It makes it really fun.

“We’re gonna keep pushing these dudes. We’ve got a lot ahead of us. This team is built to win this league and go to the (NCAA) tournament this year. We just gotta be able to get it done.”

Saturday was also a special win for the Barons as it came on Kuzma Community Day, the day they remember the legacy of legendary Barons coach Hank Kuzma and his family’s contributions to the program, school and area.

The Barons' Karl Yonkeu makes a move to the basket against Hiram. - Andrew Grimm

“Kuzma Day is special,” Wallace said. “Every time we can honor what Hank and Kay Kuzma did for not only the University, but Steubenville and the Ohio Valley is awesome. Hank passed away 12 years ago, and Kay passed away last year, so, it was really great to see about 20 of their sons, daughters, granddaughters, grandsons, great-grandchildren here. It’s awesome. It’s awesome to get them back in town and for us to win on Kuzma Day.”

The Baron’s success this season has been driven by success as a unit. Sawyer Butler started the season as the top scorers in the nation in NCAA Division III, and still sits at No. 10 in points per game, but its been the pieces around him that have continued the success, as well as Butler finding other ways to affect the outcome when he draws the attention from opposing defenses. The Barons had four players in double figures Saturday.

The Barons led Saturday’s game for more than 36 of the 40 minutes. Hiram (5-15, 1-9) had a one-point lead briefly midway through the first half, but the Barons rattled off an 11-0 run and never squandered the lead again, leading by 19 at halftime.

The Terriers had the margin to single digits in the second half, but the margin never got below nine.

FUS had the advantage in points off turnovers (18-13), points in the paint (30-14), second chance points (12-5), fast break points (21-10) and points off the bench (37-15).

Franciscan's Anthony Covetta puts up a layup on Saturday. - Andrew Grimm

Anthony Covetta had a team-high 18 points off the bench, while Zachary Pollaro netted 13 also off the bench. Butler had 12 points, five assists and three steals and Karl Yonkeu 11 points and eight rebounds.

“It’s not just one person, it’s a team effort every night, and I think we’ve shown that the last couple weeks,” Wallace said. “(Butler) hasn’t had the big games … we have pieces around him, and he feels that, he can get it out to them and they can make shots. You saw that today, he had four assists at the half.

“He’s just a really good player, great defender, great leader. He is everything you want in a player. And the guys around him are playing well, too.”

Catholic Central Benji Rook did not play on Saturday.

The Barons have a big road match up at Washington and Jefferson on Wednesday night before returning home to host Geneva on Saturday.

Catholic Central grad and all-time leading scorer now a freshman for the Barons Benji Rook, center, chats with teammates on the bench during Saturday's game. - Andrew Grimm

WOMEN’S ACTION

The Baron’s women dropped an 86-76 decision to Hiram in a high-scoring contest to start the day Saturday.

The Barons (3-16, 0-10) led after the first quarter, 18-14, but the Terriers (6-13, 3-7) out-paced them in the final three quarters.

Madonna graduate Jazzy Melnyk had another big game for FUS, scoring 20 points and pulling down a game-high 16 rebounds for a double-double while dishing five assists and having two blocks and two steals.

The Lady Barons host Waynesburg on Wednesday.

FUS forward Zach Oliver shoots a contest shot on Saturday. - Andrew Grimm

Former Weir High head coaches turned FUS assistants Anthony Santangello and Mike Granato look on from the bench on Saturday. - Andrew Grimm

FUS guard Sawyer Butler, who's No. 10 in NCAA Division III in points per game average, puts up a shot from underneath against Hiram. - Andrew Grimm

Franciscan head coach Joe Wallace chats with Sawyer Buteler during a timeout on Saturday. - Andrew Grimm