HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team opened the season with nonconference foe Alvernia University Friday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium.
Ty Kocak had 13 points off the bench, six rebounds, an assist, and a steal, while Jayden Bilger had 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists in his Eagle deb. Mason Hardy had nine points, two rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Hardy scored the Eagles' opening bucket of the season on a whirling spin move in the paint that he finished with a finger roll over his defense. Tyler Lapetina scored on a layup off a Hardy assist, and Kocak split a pair of free throws, but the Golden Wolves outpaced JC as they led 12-5.
Jordan Shifler and Morris Ivery drilled threes around a Kocak layup to get Juniata within four, 17- 3. Morris converted a jumper from the right elbow to cut into the deficit even further and bring the Eagles within two.
Kocak brought JC within one on a foul shot, but Alvernia closed the half with a 10-point edge in scoring, 31-21, over the final ten and a half minutes, as the Eagles trailed 48-37 at the break.
JC got within five in the first five minutes of the second half on a Bilger layup off a nice Hardy no-look pass, but Juniata couldn't get closer as Alvernia shot 54.2% from the floor in the second half to keep the Eagles at bay.
Juniata will travel to take on Penn State Altoona on Tuesday, November 12, at 7:00.
