Greyhounds Ready to Host 44th Steel Club Classic
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball team is ready to host the 44th Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall on Sunday, December 29 and Monday, December 30.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team is ready to host the 44th Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall on Sunday, December 29 and Monday, December 30.
The first two years of the tournament were played as a season-opening tournament before switching to a January tournament during the 1980-81 season. The tournament was not held in 2014-15 or 2015-16 due to a conflict with the Landmark Conference schedule and the tournament was also cancelled in 2020-21 due to the pandemic. The tournament was also held twice in the calendar year of 2022 in both January and December.
Host Moravian has a 54-31 record in the 43-year history of the tournament, and the Hounds have won 17 tournament titles, most recently in January of 2014. The Hounds will take on FDU-Florham on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in the first game of the tournament with the Devils making their fourth appearance in the tournament. Sunday's second game features Dickinson College, which is making its third tournament appearance with one title and tournament newcomer Baruch (N.Y.) College playing at 6:30 p.m. The Consolation game is set for 3:30 p.m. on Monday and will be followed by the championship contest at 5:30 p.m.
The Greyhounds had a 15-day break after hosting Muhlenberg College on December 14. Moravian heads into the tournament with a 4-4 mark and a 2-2 slate in Landmark Conference action. Moravian is led by head coach Darryl Keckler, who is in his third season leading the Hounds and 17th as a collegiate coach.
Junior forward Marquis Ratcliff leads the Greyhounds with averages of 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game to go along with 13 blocked shots, 11 steals, 11 assists and nine three-pointers. Junior guard Chad Kratzer is contributing 13.3 points per contest to go along with 23 rebounds, 13 steals, 13 three-pointers and 12 assists while junior guard Porter Kelly is netting 12.4 points per outing with 30 boards, 19 three-pointers, 17 assists and 10 steals.
Graduate student guard Alex Dietz is registering 6.4 points per game with 13 steals, 12 three-pointers, 11 rebounds and three assists while sophomore guard Taylor Perlmutter is contributing 6.3 points per contest with 30 rebounds, 17 assists, four steals and four three-pointers. Freshman forward Jametric Harris is averaging of 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing with 10 blocked shots, 10 assists, six three-pointers and six three-pointers while junior forward Liam Cummiskey is adding 4.6 points per game with 16 rebounds, eight assists, eight three-pointers, four steals and three blocked shots.
Senior forward Michael Leonardo is posting 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 points per contest with 19 assists, seven three-pointers, six steals and five blocked shots while sophomore guard George Cutler has 23 points, 17 assists, seven rebounds and four steals. Junior guard Colin Farrell has added 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists while sophomore guard/forward Riley Flood has posted eight points and seven rebounds.
Baruch College from New York, New York took a 4-6 record in its semester break, which began after a game on December 14. The Bearcats compete in City University of New York Athletic Conference and are 1-0 this season. Baruch is led by John Alesi, who is in his 12th season.
Senior guard Gerard Nicholson leads the Bearcats in scoring at 17.8 points per game to go along with 25 rebounds, 30 assists, 21 three-pointers and 20 steals. Graduate student forward Brandon Goldberg has averages of 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest to go along with 22 assists, eight blocked shots and four steals while senior guard Dylan Minnick is contributing 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing with 22 assists and 10 steals.
Sophomore forward Jack Gordon is posting 10.7 points per game with 30 rebounds, 22 assists, 14 three-pointers and six assists while freshman forward Trevon Coppin is scoring 8.3 points per contest with 30 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 three-pointers and six steals. Sophomore guard Luke Reese has recorded 25 points, nine rebounds, six steals and five three-pointers while freshman guard Peter Douvres has 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore guard Cole Bailey has contributed 22 rebounds, 18 assists, 12 points and three steals while senior forward Jackenson Edme has 10 rebounds and three points.
Dickinson College from Carlisle, Pennsylvania headed into its break, which started after a contest on December 14, with a 3-5 overall mark. The Red Devils compete in Centennial Conference and have not started conference play this winter. Dickinson is led by Alan Seretti, who is in his 15th season at Dickinson and 17th year overall.
Senior forward David Petrusev leads the Red Devils with averages of 16.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game to go with eight assists and six three-pointers while junior guard Isaiah Edmond is netting 10.8 points per contest to go along with 30 rebounds, 30 assists and 12 steals. Sophomore guard Cole Cosby is registering 9.7 points per outing with 14 boards, 10 assists, nine three-pointers and nine steals while senior guard Aaron Bailey is adding 8.3 points per game with 13 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals.
Sophomore guard Ryan Leskauskas is posting 8.8 points per contest with 13 rebounds, 11 three-pointers and eight assists while senior forward Brandon Wiercinski is tossing in 6.9 points per outing to go with 29 rebounds, 11 assists, 11 three-pointers and eight steals. Freshman guard Andrew Cerullo has posted 37 points, 11 three-pointers, eight rebounds, six assists and six steals.
Sophomore forward Juan Ruiz has added 35 points, 29 rebounds, six steals and three blocked shots while freshman guard Joey Dopirak has 35 points, 24 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals and four blocked shots. Junior guard Matt Mahoney has contributed 24 points, six boards and six three-pointers.
FDU-Florham from Madison, New Jersey took a 5-4 record in its semester break, which began after a game on December 7. The Devils compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference/Freedom Conference and have not begun conference play this season. FDU-Florham is led by Keith Hack, who is in his second season.
Senior guard Jaqwan Washington leads the Devils with averages of 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game to go along with 15 assists, nine three-pointers and six steals. Sophomore forward Christopher Smith is adding 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest with seven assists, seven blocked shots, five steals and four three-pointers while senior guard Carson Woods is netting 10.3 points per outing with 35 rebounds, 14 assists, 11 steals, seven three-pointers and three blocked shots.
Junior guard Mac Creek is registering 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game with 37 assists, nine three-pointers and four steals while sophomore guard Ethan Klueh is posting 7.5 points per contest with 16 three-pointers, 14 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Graduate student forward Amir Willams is recording 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing with nine steals, five assists, five three-pointers and three blocked shots while freshman center Noah Pagan is scoring 5.8 points per game with 22 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Senior guard Jamal Santana has posted 33 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, nine steals and four blocked shots while junior guard James Zingaro has added 29 points, 15 assists, 14 rebounds and six three-pointers and junior forward Angel Smith has 21 points and 22 rebounds.
