By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Juniata College men's basketball team opened the 2013-14 season with a tough loss to Mt Aloysius, 80-75, in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament, hosted by Penn State-Altoona. Senior Brian Scholly (State College, Pa./State College) pounded out the majority of the Eagles offence, coming away with 21 points and six rebounds. Senior Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W. Va./John Marshall) had a game-high 12 assists on the night and added on eight points and five rebounds.
"We saw some good and some bad things today," said head coach Greg Curley. "Saw some good things from guys, they were just not on a consistent enough basis. We turned the ball over more than they did, we got out rebounded, and didn't convert on free throws when we needed to."
The Eagles started the match strong, earning the first 13 points of the game before the Mounties were able to sink their first shot. Juniata stretched its lead out to 16, leading Aloysius 29-13 with 7:46 remaining in the first half. Senior Lucas Mellott (Warfordsburg, Pa./Southern Fulton) grabbed 10 rebounds in the first half and finished the night with 12 rebounds and 10 points for a double-double in the first game of the year.
"We have to work on our toughness and defense," said Curley. "We have to execute consistently and be more focused on rebounds and be more physical, run through balls, and be strong on the court. We had a number of opportunities to put the game away at the end of the first half and at the start of the second and other chances in there too. We have to get better at making tough plays. Toughness is learned. It will come."
Juniata carried the lead into halftime with senior Kevin Stapleton (Indiana, Pa./Indian) hitting a last second three from an offensive rebound to give the Eagles the 43-26 lead at the break. Stapleton totaled 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists overall. It took Aloysius 18 minutes and 82 seconds to claw back at the Eagles, but the Mounties were finally able to tie the game at 71-71 with just over two minutes left to play. Aloysius grabbed a two-point lead at 73-71 and held on for the 80-75 victory.
"Mount Aloysius is a very talented team and it was a great game," said Curley. "They have two transfers from Division II that were really explosive and very effective. We shut them down in the first half and didn't let them take over and then in the second half we didn't do that. They got in a rhythm and we gave up 54 points in the second half. That's the game."
Senior Pat Cassidy (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) added on nine points for the starting five and went 4-5 from the free-throw line. Juniata will face host Penn State-Altoona at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the consolation match.
"I don't know that the game went any different than I expected it to," said Curley. "I was hoping we would pull it out at the end, but everyone contributed in some way to the game, just not consistently enough. We had two seniors in the starting line up that haven't been in that role before. More is expected of them and that doesn't come without challenges. You've got to be in those situations and be the guy that has to make the play rather than the guy that it's great when then do. That just takes time. We're going to be a work in progress the entire season. Nothing I hadn't expected. We have a lot to replace and a lot to work on. We're going to get tougher."
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