Defense, Rebounding Help Eagles Soar Out of Bethlehem with Victory

BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team started their season with a win on the road at Moravian, 75-69, Friday evening at Johnson Hall. It had been 7872 hours since a Juniata team competed. 

The Greyhounds struck first with a three to open things and followed with a layup to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Marcus Hall (York, Pa. / Trinity) found Chase Husted (DuBois, Pa. / DuBois Area HS) for a layup to get JC on the board in 2021. Moravian surged ahead by seven before Cameron Keck (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro) rattled home a three, and John Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic High School) converted in the paint. Moravian split a pair of foul shots, and Hall scored inside as Husted turned provider. Husted continued to move the ball well as he found Filippo Baldo (Easton, Pa. / Notre Dame Green Pond H.S.) for a three to give the Eagles the lead. A Husted putback and back to back Hall scores made it 20-13 with eight minutes remaining in the half. The Greyhounds scored before Keck made a jumper and a three sandwiched around a Husted tip in to advance the JC lead to double digits. Andrew Bithell's (Saxton, Pa. / Tussey Mountain HS) foul shot following an and-one pushed the lead to 17 at 32-15.  

The teams traded buckets in the final few minutes as Nate DaCanal's (Johnsonburg, Pa. / Elk County Catholic) jumper in the final seconds capped the Eagles 22-9 run as they led, 42-26, heading into the locker room. 

The second half saw the Greyhounds try to get back into the game as they cut the deficit within nine several times, but the Eagle continuously had an answer. Moravian got within eight with a minute a to go. Twenty-one seconds later, a three cut the advantage to six, but Juniata managed to see out the win. 

This was the Eagle's first win at Moravian since 2016-17.  

They will return home to host Moravian, Sunday at 4:00.