LANCASTER, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team couldn't keep up with Lancaster Bible in the second half as they pulled away, 75-49, Thursday evening.
The Chargers scored the first five points on a three and a jumper before Nathan Markey (York, Pa. / Central York) put the Eagles in the book with a steal and layup. A minute and a half later, Marcus Hall (York, Pa. / Trinity) made two free throws to make it 10-4. The teams traded buckets for the next few minutes as two more foul shots from John Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic High School) and a layup by Nate DaCanal off an assist from Kohl Bernarding (Cochranton, Pa. / Cochranton H.S.) made it 14-8.
The teams traded misses for the next minute or so before the Chargers scored inside in transition after a steal, and Cameron Keck (Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro) converted a three. DaCanal's free throw made it 16-12 with just under 10 minutes to go in the half.
A Charger layup, followed by a Keck jumper, was proceeded by a Lancaster Bible three. Kelly split a pair of free throws, and Markey scored inside off a pass from Bernarding to make it 21-15.
With three and half minutes to go, the Eagles trailed 25-19 following a Crusader jumper. Markey got another steal and found Keck for another three to pull JC within three. Hall split a pair of free throws to make it a two-point game. The Chargers scored on a layup in the final 36 seconds; Kelly corralled a Juniata miss and laid it back in to send the Eagles into the locker room down two at halftime, 27-25.
Lancaster Bible opened the second half with a layup and a free throw a few possessions later before Keck drilled his third three. The Chargers came down and made a three of their own, and Hall found Keck for another bucket to make it 33-30.
Juniata got no closer as the hosts went on a 42-19 run to close out the contest.
The Eagles are on the road again Sunday as they will take on Lycoming at 1:00.