HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team opened Landmark Conference play with a commanding 71-41 win over visiting Lycoming College Wednesday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium.
The Warriors came out cooking offensively as they built an early 13-4 lead. Chase Husted converted a jumper off a pass from Gabe Guidinger, and Mason Hardy kicked it to Tyler Lapetina, who drilled a three from the right wing to cut the deficit to four.
Another Husted bucket and a tough layup inside from Kyle Ruggery helped the Eagles stay close, with back-to-back acrobatic layups from Hardy and Lapetina bringing JC within one, 18-17. On the next trip down the floor, Husted tossed it to Lapetina at the top of the key in deep three-point territory. The junior from Collegeville, Pa., sized up his defender momentarily before splashing a three to give JC their first lead of the game. From there, JC ramped up the defense as they closed the half on a 15-5 run, capped by a steal in the final seconds that saw Ruggery lay it off to Husted for a layup to end the half.
Juniata went into the locker room up nine, 32-23.
The Eagles dominated the second half, opening the second half on an 18-5 sprint as they put the game away in the first seven minutes. JC outscored the Warriors 39-18 in the second half on their way to a 71-41 victory.
Husted tallied 24 points with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Lapetina totaled 22 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Guidinger contributed eight points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Juniata returns to action at home this Saturday when they host the University of Scranton at 2:00.