SELINSGROVE, Pa.- After trailing by double digits with ten minutes to go in the second half, a pair of converted Chase Husted free throws with 15 seconds to go completed a steady comeback to secure a 51-50 victory at Susquehanna on Wednesday night.
Husted led Juniata scoring on the evening with 17 points alongside a team-high in both rebounds (8) and assists (4). Gabe Guidinger also struck double digits, totaling 13 points and going 5-8 on field goals with four rebounds, a blocked shot, a steal, and an assist.
Evan Eisenhart had two threes en route to a 12-point night with six rebounds, a steal, and two assists, while Mason Hardy had six rebounds, five points, a steal, and one assist.
After a game-opening layup from the River Hawks, a layup from Husted and jumpers from Eisenhart and Hardy got the Eagles back in control 6-2 through four minutes. Susquehanna soon struck back with a three that was quickly countered by a Guidinger three-pointer on the next possession on an open look from the right wing. Two Husted free throws a possession later put the Eagles up 11-5.
Susquehanna regained footing over the next five minutes with a pair of layups and jumpers, making up an 8-0 run that put them ahead 13-11. On the next Eagles possession, Neco Campbell, stuck at the free throw line, spotted Eisenhart on the left wing with space for his three-pointer of the night and a reclaimed lead. His second three came 90 seconds later from the left wing via Hardy.
Four straight points from Susquehanna got the team's level at 17 each, and the sides traded buckets over the final seven minutes to a 23-23 halftime score.
The back-and-forth sequence continued for much of the early portion of the second half, with six lead changes in the opening five minutes. The hosts eventually put together an 11-2 run that ended with back-to-back threes that gave Susquehanna a 44-32 lead with ten minutes to go. The Eagles quickly began to chip away at the advantage, starting with a Guidinger jumper off an inbounds pass from Ty Kocak and a layup from Husted at the post.
A pair of free throws from Husted and one from Hardy got Juniata within five points. After a Susquehanna free throw, a layup and hook shot from Husted on back-to-back Eagles possessions got the Eagles within two points at 45-43 after trailing by 12 just four minutes prior.
Scoring slowed down over the next few minutes, with Juniata eventually finding themselves down 50-45 with 2:51 to play following a step-back jump shot by the River Hawks. Hardy started from the left wing and drove into the paint, floating a jump shot to get within three points. A possession later, Husted found Guidinger driving into the paint from the top of the key, and he converted a left-handed layup to get within a point.
Susquehanna called full timeout, and their possession ended in a travel upon returning to action. Juniata was unable to convert on either side of a timeout on their next possession, but they kept possession following a JC foul after a successful high pass forced an errant Susquehanna pass out of bounds. Regaining possession at the baseline, the ball went to Husted, who drew the foul on his way to the basket, and he converted to take the lead 51-50.
The River Hawks called timeout with 13 seconds to find an answer. A high press forced another timeout, and they again could not convert on a jump shot with three seconds to go.
Both sides had their lowest-scoring offensive performances in Landmark Conference action this season. Juniata drew an advantage with just 11 personal fouls, sending Susquehanna to the free-throw line on just three occasions, compared to a 12-14 free-throw performance from the Eagles. Juniata also drew a close advantage on turnovers, with ten conceded to Susquehanna's 12.
Juniata will recognize the program's seniors in the regular season finale against Moravian this Saturday at 2:00 pm. Juniata's first-round Landmark Conference playoffs opponent is to be determined, with positions 2-5 still up in the air.
