Freshman guard Porter Kelly dribbles the ball up court during the second half versus Juniata College in Johnston Hall.
Freshman guard Porter Kelly dribbles the ball up court during the second half versus Juniata College in Johnston Hall.
January 13, 2023

Moravian Sees Halftime Lead Slip Away in Loss to Juniata

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball squad had a four-point halftime lead; however, the Greyhounds were unable to hold on as the Blue & Grey fell to visiting Juniata College, 79-75, in Landmark Conference action in Johnston Hall Friday.

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad had a four-point halftime lead; however, the Greyhounds were unable to hold on as the Blue & Grey fell to visiting Juniata College, 79-75, in Landmark Conference action in Johnston Hall Friday.

How It Happened

  • The Hounds scored first as freshman forward Marquis Ratcliff hit a lay-up in the opening possession. Junior guard C.J. Weber made it a 5-2 lead with a three-pointer before the Eagles took a 7-5 edge. Freshman guard Porter Kelly drained a three-pointer to put Moravian back in front 9-7. The squads would trade the lead back-and-forth over the next eight minutes with the Greyhounds leading by as many as four points at 19-15 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard/forward Michael Leonardo at the 11:59 mark
  • Juniata put together a 12-2 run to build a 27-21 lead with 8:04 until the intermission, and the Eagles had pushed the advantage to eight points at 34-26 with 4:29 on the clock. Moravian's defense stepped up and didn't allow Juniata to score again before halftime and a 12-0 run from the Greyhounds capped by a three-pointer from Porter sent the Blue & Grey to the locker room with a 38-34 advantage
  • The Eagles knotted the score with the first two baskets of the second half. Ratcliff gave the lead back to the Hounds, and a three-pointer then a free throw by Weber had Moravian up 46-44 with 13:11 to go. Juniata ran off eight straight points to take the lead for good at 55-46 with 10:50 remaining
  • The Greyhounds got within a point at 52-51 on a lay-up by junior guard Alex Dietz two and a half minutes later; however, Moravian would get no closer as the Eagles pushed the lead to 10 points at 72-62 with 1:28 remaining. The Hounds nearly pulled off the second comeback of the week as Kelly made it a two-point contest at 77-75 with just 18 seconds left, but Juniata made the edge four points, and the Blue and Grey missed two three-pointers in the waning seconds

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had four players in double figures with Ratcliff scoring a game-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds. Kelly tossed in 18 points to go along with three assists, two steals and two rebounds while Dietz netted 15 points
  • Weber contributed 12 points with two rebounds while Leonardo added seven rebounds, six assists and five points. Sophomore forward Nate Santiago recorded six boards, four points and three assists while junior guard Mark Howell had the Hounds' other two points
  • The Greyhounds shot 29-for-55 from the floor including 15-of-26 in the first half, and the squad was 13-for-29 on three-pointers and 4-for-9 at the charity stripe 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Wednesday, January 18 at Goucher College, 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, January 21 at Susquehanna University, 4:00 p.m.