HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team used a strong defensive first half to stymie visiting Drew University as they won, 65-53, Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Gymnasium to open Landmark Conference play.  

Chase Husted scored the opening three points for the Eagles on a free throw and a runout steal that saw him go the length of the floor before laying the ball in. On the next possession, Husted poked a loose ball to Ross Conway, who dropped a floater in from 10 feet to make it 5-4. Husted turned provider as he found a cutting Gabe Guidinger for a reverse layup. 

The Eagles nursed a small lead over the early going as the teams went back and forth. Nick Rigby found Kyle Ruggery for a three, Husted split a pair of foul shots, and Mason Hardy converted a high degree of difficulty layup while being fouled; his free throw made it 16-7. Hardy found Guidinger behind the defense for a lob, and another Husted foul shot pushed the lead to 12. 

Drew didn't break double digits until there were five and a half minutes to go in the half, as the JC defense had the Rangers sputtering on the offensive end. Drew was down 10 in the final minutes, but the Eagles closed the half on a 6-0 run with a Husted layup sending Juniata into the locker room up by 16, 35-19. 

Drew chipped away at the Juniata lead over the opening nine minutes of the second half, and a steal by the Rangers resulted in a three on the other end to make it 43-37. A Michael Montecalvo three off a Ruggery assist push the lead back to nine for a moment.  

The Rangers got within nine again for the final time on a layup with just over six minutes to go. The offenses went cold for the next two minutes, with a Ruggery assist on a Husted and one making it 57-45 with three to play. 

The Eagles closed the game out the rest of the way, as the Rangers couldn't narrow the gap before the final horn sounded. 

LETS GOO!! Chase Husted with th dunk as the Eagles defeat the Rangers pic.twitter.com/RWuOP8Uv0y

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) December 3, 2022

Juniata outrebounded Drew 40-24 and had a huge advantage in points in the paint, 34-14. The JC reserves also provided much more scoring off the bench, outscoring the Ranger reserves 19-2. 

Husted posted his second straight double-double with 23 points & 13 rebounds to go with two assists, three steals, and a rebound. Ruggery led the JC bench with 11 points, two rebounds, and three assists. 

Juniata returns to the court to take on Pitt-Bradford, Tuesday at 7:00.