Eagles Host Royals in Landmark Doubleheader on Alumni Day
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – With the first half of the Landmark Conference season in the books, the Juniata College men’s basketball team will look for a surge down the home stretch beginning this Saturday, Feb. 1, against The University of Scranton. The men’s game will tip off at 2 p.m. followed by the women’s game at 4 p.m.
By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich Photography
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – With the first half of the Landmark Conference season in the books, the Juniata College men's basketball team will look for a surge down the home stretch beginning this Saturday, Feb. 1, against The University of Scranton. The men's game will tip off at 2 p.m. followed by the women's game at 4 p.m.
The Eagles traveled to Scranton, Pa. for the first meeting with the Royals earlier this year. On that day, Juniata overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to pull out the 80-79 overtime win. The Juniata bench helped propel the Eagles by outscoring the Scranton bench 20-5.
"We hope to get contributions from the bench every night," said head coach Greg Curley. "Scranton has some depth. You almost have to match with them. They are physical, athletic, and they're going to try to push the tempo. Everyone has to be ready to go so this will really be an all-hands-on-deck kind of a game. It's that time of year and we need everybody to be ready in whatever way arises and hope they can go in and contribute like they did up there."
Juniata is tied for fourth in the Landmark standing with Drew University. Both teams are 3-4 in conference play and while the Eagles hold the overall record advantage of 12-6, the Rangers earned the head-to-head tiebreak when they defeated Juniata 64-63 on an overtime buzzer beater.
"We are going to get back to our basics and trusting our principals and our fundamentals," said Curley. "We have to get to the point where we can guard the ball well and we haven't been able to do that recently. They're going to come after us and we have to respond. We have to play our best."
The Royals currently hold second place in the Landmark with a conference record of 5-2 and 15-3 overall. Along with the loss to Juniata earlier this month, the Royals other league loss also came in Scranton in overtime to U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 86-83. Scranton is currently on a five-game win-streak including a 92-82 win over 2013 Landmark Champion Catholic University of America.
Scranton junior Ross Danzig is leading the conference with 21.8 points per game with Juniata senior Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W. Va./John Marshall) fourth averaging 17.1 points per game. Hays tops the league in total assists and assists per game with senior Lucas Mellott (Warfordsburg, Pa./Southern Fulton) pacing the Eagles with seven rebounds a game. In the last three games sophomore Kyle Koehler (Chester Springs, Pa./Devon Prep.) has scored 34 points pulled down 18 rebounds and is averaging 26 minutes of time off the bench.
"We really just have to make Ross work for everything he's going to get," said Curley. "He's a really talented player, but what really impresses with that team is how well they pass and share the ball. They all know how to dribble-pass-shoot and play. Their talent is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. They're deep and very well coached and it's going to be a battle."
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