By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: T.J. Chance-Chin
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – After a solid 70-51 win over Goucher College last Wednesday to conclude the 2013-14 series against the Gophers, the Juniata College men's basketball team currently sits in a four way tie for third place in the Landmark Conference standings. This Saturday, Feb. 15, the Eagles will host U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center at 2 p.m. for the final home contest of the regular season.
"Whoever controls or dictates the game is probably going to have the upper hand," said head coach Greg Curley. "They play at a really high tempo. They've transformed themselves throughout the year – they were playing really big and now they've gone with four perimeter guys around one post player. The streak that they are on, they've been shooting the ball really well. They're tough. They threaten your defense in all areas. You have to really be able to execute. Guys are going to have to be sound in transition and on the glass."
The University of Scranton sits atop the league with a conference record of 9-2 with Catholic University of America close behind at 8-3, both teams have clinched playoff spots and the Royals have earned home court advantage. The Eagles, with a conference record of 5-6, are fighting it out for one of the final two-playoff spots with Saturday's foe, Merchant Marine, Moravian College, and Susquehanna University.
Juniata traveled to Kings Point, N.Y. for the first meeting with the Mariners this season and eventually fell on the road 79-68. Overall, the Eagles are 4-9 against Merchant Marine and 3-3 at home against the Mariners. Juniata has a chance to pull out a split on the season against Merchant Marine as well as against Susquehanna. The Eagles have concluded the series against Moravian, earning both wins on the year.
"We played [Merchant Marine] as they made the shift to the smaller lineup," said Curley. "We were the first ones to really see what they did. We were in good shape in that game until about 12 minutes left. We were still trying to find out who we are at that time and I thought they came into their own and really handled us the last 12 minutes. If anything, I think we are really prepared now for their size and athleticism and we understand the pace they want to play."
Merchant Marine senior forward Nick Sergio is pacing the Mariners in rebounds per game and field goal percentage. His 8.7 rebounds a game is second best in the conference and his 51.2 field goal percentage is fourth best in the Landmark, just above Juniata senior Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W. Va./John Marshall) at 50.9%.
"They have the best offensive rebounders and their wings are very athletics," said Curley. "They shoot a lot of threes so there are going to be a lot of long rebounds and they are good at going to get them. Rebounding is one of their emphasis and they do it very well. We're going to have to work very hard to stay even or survive. We're going to have to find other ways to tip the scale and turn the game in our favor."
Hays and classmates Kevin Stapleton (Indiana, Pa./Indiana), and Brian Scholly (State College, Pa./State College) are the top three scorers for the Eagles averaging 15.9, 13.4, and 13.1 points per game respectively. The Juniata defense is allowing just over 66 points against and the team is averaging 43.1 rebounds per game with a positive margin of 1.7. Senior Lucas Mellott (Warfordsburg, Pa./Southern Fulton) leads the team in rebounds at 153 to date with Scholly pulling down a team second-best 122.
The final home doubleheader of the season marks senior day for both the men and women's programs. Both teams will take time before tip-off to recognize their seniors.
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