HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team grabbed their fifth-straight Landmark Conference win and eighth-straight win overall as they defeated visiting Susquehanna, 66-53, Wednesday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium to stay unbeaten in conference play.
Ross Conway got the game started with a three from a step behind the three-point line off a kick out pass from Chase Husted. Following a River Hawk bucket, Tyler Lapetina drove from the left wing and banked the ball off the glass to make it 5-2. Layups from Husted off an excellent feed from Gabe Guidinger, another Lapetina score, and a foul shot from Guidinger had the Eagles up 10-6 in the first few minutes.
The teams traded buckets for a while, with the River Hawks taking the lead twice. Susquehanna was in a zone when Conway found Lapetina on the right wing for a three that made it 17-16. Mason Hardy added a pull-up jumper from the foul line that caught the back rim before rolling in. A few possessions later, a strong drive from Nick Rigby saw him blow by his defender and finish with his left hand. Lapetina handed the ball off to Conway, who hit a jumper from the left elbow to make it 25-19 with under seven to go in the half.
Evan Eisenhart for threeee!! #WingsUp #GoEagles #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/ykZPGjeBeK
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) January 19, 2023
Susquehanna chipped away at the lead, getting within two at 25-23. The Eagles closed the final four minutes of the half on a 9-2 run as they went into the locker room up 34-25 at the break. The run featured four points from Rigby, an Evan Eisenhart three that he drilled with a defender in his face, and two Guidinger foul shots.
It appeared the Eagles would soar away with the game over the opening four minutes of the second half as a 14-1 run pushed the Juniata lead to 20 at 46-26. A Guidinger hook shot from the left block made it 48-26 to cap the run.
Ross Conway makes it 37! #WingsUp #GoEagles #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/YTKTlq0cSL
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) January 19, 2023
Tyler Lapetina finds the basket for the Eagles!! #GoEagles #TakingFlight #WingsUp pic.twitter.com/Pgg873DJQp
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) January 19, 2023
Susquehanna didn't go away quietly, as they clawed back within nine, 55-46, with seven and a half minutes to go in the game.
The Eagle defense locked it down, only allowing the River Hawks to score on a single foul shot over the following four minutes. By the time the visitors scored on a layup, Juniata had converted several free throws of their own as they led by 12, 61-49.
Husted capped the game off with a dunk off a pass from Hardy, which made it 65-52 and got the fans on their feet.
Chase Husted with a DUNK!!! #WingsUp #GoEagles #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/LjIO8euyyM
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) January 19, 2023
The Eagles stand at 12-4, 5-0 in the Landmark, their best start to Landmark Conference play.
Juniata will host Scranton Saturday at 4:00.
