Eagles Can't Overcome Big First Half Deficit At Catholic

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Juniata men's basketball team couldn't overcome the 14-point first-half deficit as they lost on the road at Catholic, 60-46, Wednesday evening at Franny Murray Court. 

Marcus Hall (York, Pa. / Trinity) opened the game with a steal, flipped it ahead to Kohl Bernarding (Cochranton, Pa. / Cochranton H.S.), who laid it in to get JC on the board first. The Cardinals scored the next 11 points over the following five minutes before Nate DaCanal (Johnsonburg, Pa. / Elk County Catholic) found Cameron Keck (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro) for a jumper to try and stop the run. Nick Rigby's (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon H.S.) three off a pass from Keck was proceeded by a Jake Holsopple (Duncansville, Pa. / Hollidaysburg) putback, and Rigby layup off a pass from Kohl Bernarding (Cochranton, Pa. / Cochranton H.S.) brought JC within two at 13-11.

The Cardinals nailed a three, and a minute later, Hall scored inside to make it 16-13.

A Rigby jumper followed by a pair Holsopple free throws a few minutes later, narrowed the deficit to one, 22-21.  

The Cardinals closed the half on a 13-0 as they led, 35-21, at halftime. 

Catholic dominated the glass, 23-8, and shot 50.0% from the floor while holding Juniata to 30.8% shooing from the fled in the first half.  

A John Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic High School) putback was the first bucket of the second half, and it didn't occur until over three minutes had passed. The Cardinals converted back to back triples to push their advantage to 18 at 41-23.  

Rigby rattled home a jumper Holsopple made three free throws, Charles Somerville III (Hagerstown, Md. / St. Maria Goretti H.S.) scored on a putback followed by a transition layup following a Nate DaCanal (Johnsonburg, Pa. / Elk County Catholic) steal brought the deficit down to nine with a little under 13 minutes to go in the half. 

Juniata got within eight two different times but couldn't climb all the way back as they eventually fell to the Cardinals.

The Cardinals held a decisive 45-26 edge in rebounds, but the Eagles dominated the points in the paint 2ith 28-10. 

Juniata returns home this Saturday to host Moravian. Tipoff is at 2:00 PM.