January 17, 2026
Moravian Holds Off Juniata Rally for Third Straight Conference Victory
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball team held off a late rally by visiting Juniata College to post an 87-81 victory in Landmark Conference action Saturday as the Greyhounds won their third straight conference contest.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team held off a late rally by visiting Juniata College to post an 87-81 victory in Landmark Conference action Saturday as the Greyhounds won their third straight conference contest.
How It Happened
- The Eagles scored the opening points before freshman forward Steve Conway got the Hounds on the board with a free throw. Junior guard George Cutler sank a three-pointer to knot the score at 4-4 while Conway gave the Blue & Grey their first lead at 8-6. Conway pushed the advantage to five points at 15-10 with 14:25 on the clock before Juniata when on an 11-2 run to move ahead 21-17 with 10:37 left in the first half
- Greyhounds retook the lead for good at 22-21 when senior guard Chad Kratzer drained a three-pointer at the 8:57 mark. Moravian stretched the edge to nine points at 36-27 on two free throws from senior forward Marquis Ratcliff with 1:26 to go in the half before taking a 36-30 lead into the intermission
- Kratzer began the second half with a three-pointer, and the Hounds pushed the edge into double figures at 43-32 on a lay-up from Cutler. Moravian's hot start to the second half made the lead 60-37 with just under 13 minutes to go as junior guard Joel Baez scored on a fast break
- The Blue & Grey were up 21 points, 66-45, at the midway point of the second half before the Eagles started to close the gap. Juniata would get within single digits with just over three minutes to go, and the Eagles made it a three-point contest with just over three seconds left when senior guard Porter Kelly sank one free throw and Ratcliff drained two free throws to seal the victory
Inside the Numbers
- Moravian had three players in double figures led by Kelly, who tossed 22 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and three steals
- Kratzer finished with 19 points, seven boards and three assists while Ratcliff contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots
- Senior forward Liam Cummiskey posted nine points, three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals while sophomore guard Dylan Costa had six points
- Conway and Baez each registered five points and four rebounds while Cutler added five points and a pair of assists
- The Hounds shot 29-for-67 from the field, 12-for-37 on three-pointers and 17-for-25 at the foul line while forcing the Eagles into 19 turnovers
Up Next for the Greyhounds
- Wednesday, January 21 vs. Drew University, 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, January 24 at Wilkes University, 2:00 p.m.
