SCRANTON, PA- Defending Landmark Conference champion Scranton led for over 38 minutes of game time as it defeated the Juniata men's basketball team 61-48 on Saturday afternoon at the Long Center. The Royals improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Landmark while the Eagles drop to 4-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
Trevor Clune (Meadville, PA/Meadville Area), Justin Fleming (Richmond, VA/Benedictine College Prep), and Nate Ogle (Falls Church, VA/George Mason) all scored 10 points each to lead Juniata. Clune added five rebounds and three steals. Fleming chipped in four boards while Ogle had three rebounds and two assists.
Scranton scored the contest's first seven points in just over three minutes of game time to go ahead 7-0. Juniata's first basket came on a layup from Brian Graytok (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic) at 13:13.
The Eagles cut the Royal lead down to three points, 8-5, with 12:39 showing on the clock after Marcus Lee (Carrolltown, PA/Bishop Carroll) converted the traditional three-point play. A 21-11 Scranton run to end the first frame, however, gave the home team a 29-16 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Scranton lead grew to as much as 20 points, 48-28, at the 10:40 mark. A 9-2 run by the Eagles chipped away at the deficit with just under eight minutes left to play in the frame as the score stood at 50-37 in Scranton's favor.
Juniata would twice get to within 12 points with the final time coming with 3:33 remaining in the game after a jump shot from Fleming. Scranton, however, proved to be too much in the end as it kept the Eagles at bay and came away with the win.
Scranton outshot Juniata on the floor 50% (21-of-42) to 35.1% (20-of-57). The Royals were good on 42.1% (8-of-19) of their three-point attempts compared to JC's 27.8% (5-of-18). The Eagles did enjoy a 32-30 edge in rebounds.
The Eagles return to Memorial Gymnasium next Friday when they host the 23rd annual Doc Greene Tournament. Juniata will play Penn State York at 7 p.m. The other game will feature Dickinson College going up against North Central (IL) at 5 p.m.