Thompson’s 24 point performance leads Juniata past Westminster

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Juniata College men's basketball team turned in its best shooting performance of the season while breezing past Westminster College, 75-65, Monday night in New Wilmington, Pa. 

Juniata (2-6) shot 51.0% (26-51) from the field, including a 61.9% clip (13-21) in the second half alone. Senior David Thompson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) paced the Eagles with a 9-of-12 shooting performance from the floor, on his way to a game-high 24 points. Thompson was 3-of-4 from three-point range, and a perfect 3-of-3 at the free-throw line. 

Ryan Jones (Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport) also finished in double-figures with 10 points off the bench, largely on the effort of his 8-of-9 effort at the stripe. Eric Mueseler (Latrobe, Pa./Latrobe) had nine points with a game-high nine rebounds, while dishing out four assists. 

After a see-saw first half that saw three ties and three lead changes, the Eagles began to pull away from the Titans midway through the second stanza. An 11-3 Juniata run, capped by a Thompson trey, gave the Eagles their first double-digit lead of the game at 54-43 with 9:46 remaining in the game. 

Westminster countered with a pair of free throws and a jumper by Rob Briggs, briefly bringing the Titans to within seven points of the Eagles at 54-47 with 8:29 showing. Buckets by Juniata's Austin Ankney (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) and Dan Sekulski (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone Area), followed by a traditional three-point play by Jeff Berkey (Stoystown, Pa./Shanksville-Stonycreek), quickly had the Juniata lead back up to 14 points, 61-47, ending the Titan threat.

The Titans (0-9) had three players in double-figures, led by Bobby Glass with 16 points. Steve Bielich had 15 points with eight boards, while Ryne Murray had 11 points with four assists. 

Juniata will now take a nearly two week break for exams, before returning to action on Saturday, Dec. 20, when it hosts Washington & Jefferson College at 2:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center in Huntingdon, Pa. 

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