Huntingdon, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team blew out the College of St. Joseph's (VT), 90-54, Friday evening in the first night of the 26th Annual Doc Greene Tournament.
Marcus Lee (Carrolltown, Pa./Bishop Carroll) had 13 points and seven rebounds, Damon Rickens (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) had 12 points and five rebounds while Brandon Martinazzi (Cresson, Pa./Bishop Carroll) had 11 points and six assists. Cameron Keck (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) and Jake Holsopple (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) each added seven points off the bench.
Martinazzi hit Rickens for an open three as Juniata jumped out to an 11-6 lead inside the first three minutes. The Fighting Saints scored the next two buckets, including a dunk in transition as they closed within one at 11-10. Lee scored inside off a pass from Seth Brewer (Lancaster, Pa./ Manheim Township), Noah Neville (Westminster, Md./North Carroll) hit Martinazzi for an easy score inside, and Brewer drilled two foul shots to make it 19-10 with a little over 13 minutes left.
St. Joseph's pulled back within six at 21-15, but JC blew the game open from there, going on a 19-2 run as they locked down the Fighting Saints to two points over five minutes. Juniata went into the locker room up 48-29 at halftime.
Rickens swished a three off a Brewer pass to open the second half, and JC's lead never dipped below 20 throughout the rest of the game.
Juniata shot 50.0% percent from the floor and 46.7 % from deep. 15 different players scored for the Eagles.
JC will play Randolph-Macon in the championship game, tomorrow at 4:00.