HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team turned off the defensive pressure in the second half as they held visiting Penn St. Mont Alto to 18 points to get the win, 67-43, Monday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium to advance to the Juniata College Comfort Inn Holiday Tournament Championship Game. They will take on Gwynedd Mercy tomorrow at 4:00. 

The Eagles assisted their first six baskets of the game, highlighted by Mason Hardy splashing three threes as Juniata led 15-9. Ross Conway hit a turnaround jumper for the first Eagle unassisted bucket of the game to push the lead to eight. The Lions made a three to crack double digits with just under 12 minutes to go in the half. The visitors got the Eagle lead down to three over the next several minutes, but Juniata kept them at bay. A Nick Rigby steal wound up with a reverse Tyler Lapetina on the other end, two Chase Husted foul shots, and one from Hardy pushed the lead back to eight. Mont Alto got back within six before foul shots from Conway, Kyle Ruggery, and an additional two from Hardy had Juniata up by ten at the break, 35-25. 

It was an excellent half offensively for JC as they assisted nine of their 11 shots; they shot 50.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three. The defensive also did their job, holding the Lions to 32.1% shooting from the field. 

The Eagles opened the second half on a 14-3 over the first eight minutes to push the lead to 21 as they cruised through the rest of the game to earn the win. Juniata was putting their body on the line as they took several charges during the second half to stymie Mont Alto in the paint. 

The Eagles lead by 16 in the second half!! pic.twitter.com/9XZMnCVked

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) December 20, 2022

Ross Conway for three!! pic.twitter.com/kp2DMu9gJB

— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) December 20, 2022

Juniata will face Gwynedd Mercy in a rematch of last year's tournament tomorrow at 4:00.