WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Juniata College men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Saturday night in the Landmark Conference Championship game, 63-62, after No. 11 Catholic University scored the game winner with three seconds remaining.
Senior Alex Raymond (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona) scored a game-high 22 points in his final Landmark tournament appearance. Juniors Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W. Va./John Marshall) and Brian Scholly (State College, Pa./State College) finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Eagles had the lead for most the game.
Juniata (18-9) came out the gate aggressive, jumping to a 20-9 lead seven minutes into the contest. They held their position until falling flat and allowing Catholic to pull within two (22-20) with 4:35 on the clock. A three by Raymond with the shot clock expiring set a spark to the team and the Eagles went into the break ahead 30-26.
Junior Kevin Stapleton (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) opened scoring in the second half. He drove into the lane and was fouled going up for the layup. He topped off the and-1 from the free throw line to give Juniata the 33-26 lead.
With the score tied up at 51 with 7:44 to play, Raymond sunk a pair of free throws to give Juniata the lead, 53-51. Catholic responded with a three but Scholly answered with a long trey of his own.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch with Juniata holding onto a one point lead until Kevin Phanord completed a 3-point play that gave Catholic the 60-58 lead with 2:20 on the clock.
After a block by senior Nate Higgins (St. Mary's, Pa./Elk County Catholic), Stapleton scored a transition jumper to tie the game with 49 seconds remaining. Chris Kearney drove to the basket with 38 seconds left and drew a foul for Catholic. He made the second free throw to put the Cardinals up 61-60.
Juniata pushed the ball of the court and Raymond was fouled going to hoop. He sunk both with 30 seconds on the clock give the Eagles the 62-61 lead. Shawn Holmes missed a jumper on the next possession but knocked the rebound out of bounds off Juniata to keep the Cardinals possession alive. It would be Holmes who took Catholic's final shot of the night. His baseline jumper hit off the near side of the rim before kissing off the front and falling in to give his team the 63-62 lead with three seconds left.
The Eagles were able to inbound the ball and give Scholly a chance at three from 10-feet across halfcourt, but the ball banked off short.
Juniata will now wait to see if it is invited to a postseason tournament.
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