Eagles Topple Conference Leaders Catholic in Home Finale

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team picked up a massive win over top-of-the-conference Catholic, 81-67, Wednesday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium. 

Tyler Lapetina drilled a three from the right wing off a pass from Mason Hardy to get things going for the Eagles. A layup from Nick Rigby and two consecutive three-pointers from Gabe Guidinger had the Eagles ahead by three, 11-8, as the teams traded three-pointers. 

A jump hook by Rigby from the right block while being fouled, and the ensuing foul shot, pushed the lead to six. Catholic answered on the other end with a baseline jumper. Evan Eisenhart hit a smooth turnaround jumper that found nothing but net from the left baseline; Lapetina lobbed the ball over the defense to Chase Husted, who laid the ball in. Lapetina split a pair of free throws; Kyle Ruggery converted a top-of-the-key three off a Lapetina assist that pushed Juniata's lead to double digits. Rigby swung the ball to Lapetina, who drilled another JC triple as the Eagles led 25-10 with five and a half minutes to go in the half. The Cardinals answered with a three from the left corner, but Ruggery found Kohl Bernarding for the third straight Eagle three as Juniata refused to miss. 

A flurry from the Cardinals brought them back within eight with three to go in the half, but a Rigby layup and foul shots from him, Husted, and Hardy pushed the lead back to 15. The Cardinals made a jumper in the final 30 seconds before Lapetina's three at the buzzer sent the Eagles into the locker room up 16, 38-22. 

Juniata made seven threes in the first half, with three coming from Lapetina, as the Eagle offense was humming in the first half. The Juniata defense was stout as ever, holding Catholic to 38.1% shooting from the field and forcing 11 turnovers.  

Juniata would lead by as many as 28 in the second half, but the Cardinals didn't give up as they whittled the lead down to 12 with two and a half to play, but Juniata made their foul shots down the stretch to earn the 81-67 victory. 

Juniata heads to Scranton with a variety of playoff scenarios in play. A win ensures the Eagles finish no lower than third with the potential to host a Landmark playoff game with help from other results. They will tip off at 4:00 Saturday.