SCRANTON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team couldn't quite keep pace with the hot shooting of the University of Scranton in the Landmark Championship as they lost, 84-63, Saturday afternoon at a packed John Long Center.
The Royals jumped out to a 9-2 lead, with Chase Husted's two foul shots the only Eagle points in the first five minutes. The Royals converted a jumper, and Tyler Lapetina drew a foul. He made both to bring JC back within seven. Scranton drilled a three, and Husted got Juniata their first field goal of the game on a short right hook in the paint. Lapetina kicked it to Kyle Ruggery, and he swished a three to bring Juniata within seven.
Evan Eisenhart fired a three from the top of the key, Nick Rigby went off the glass with a floater, and Eisenhart drilled a second three, this one from deep on the right wing, to bring Juniata within 10 with eight minutes to go in the half.
Husted scored on a putback, and Eisenhart drilled his third three of the half from the top of the key. Michael Montecalvo poked the ball away on defense, took the ball the other way, and laid it in to bring the Eagles within five, 29-24.
The Royals pushed their lead back to 10 with a layup with three and a half minutes to go in the half. Eisenhart found Rigby at the top of the key and drilled a three. Scranton scored on the other end, and Rigby scored again, blowing past his man before laying it as Juniata got back within seven 36-29.
Trailing by nine in the final seconds, Rigby drove, spun, and lofted a floater over the defender to send Juniata into the locker room down seven, 40-33.
Husted opened the second half by drawing a foul and making a pair of foul shots. The Royals took control from there, going on a 24-10 run as a foul shot put them ahead 62-45 with 12 minutes to go in the contest.
The Eagles mounted an 11-2 run as Ruggery made two threes around a Husted jumper as JC quickly got within 11. The Royals countered with a layup before Mason Hardy got in on the fun, drilling a three from the right corner, which made it 66-56 with eight minutes to play. Juniata would keep pace for a few more minutes, with a set of Ruggery foul shots bringing Juniata within nine with six to go.
The Eagles would get no closer as Scranton closed the game on a 17-5 run to clinch the Landmark Championship.
Husted totaled 20 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Eisenhart added 10 points and an assist, while Ruggery chipped in with 11 points, two rebounds, and an assist off the bench. Rigby added 13 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
Juniata sits at 17-10 on the year.
