HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team took down the visiting University of Scranton, 70-62, Saturday afternoon inside a loud Memorial Gymnasium.
The Eagles got on the board first with two straight layups from Chase Husted (DuBois, Pa. / DuBois Area HS). The Royals countered with an and-one, with a triple as the clock was running down by Evan Eisenhart (York, Pa. / Central York HS) and a pair of Kyle Ruggery (Duncansville, PA / Bishop Guilfoyle HS) foul shots making it 9-3 JC. Scranton got within two over the next two minutes, using a three to make it 11-9.
Gabe Guidinger (York, Pa. / Central York HS) drove to the hope from the right corner and laid the ball off the glass to make it 15-19 with 12 minutes to go in the half. Two possessions later, following a Mason Hardy (Gaithersburg, Md. / Our Lady of Good Counsel HS) offensive rebound, Michael Montecalvo (Altoona, Pa. / Bishop Guilfoyle HS) drilled a tough jumper with a hand in his face off a pass from Tyler Lapetina (Collegeville, Pa. / Perkiomen Valley HS).
Juniata managed to hold the Royals at arm's length for the remainder of the half, with Nick Rigby (Huntingdon, Pa. / Huntingdon HS) driving from the top of the key off glass to send JC into the locker room up 37-28.
Nick Rigby with the layup. Eagles lead 37-28 at the Half #WingsUp #TakingFlight #GoEagles pic.twitter.com/VkDP0nsKCY
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) January 29, 2022
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw the Eagles continue to keep Scranton at bay as they never got closer than 10.
With nine minutes to go, the Royals scored five straight to get within six, 56-50. John Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic HS) scored off a feed from Ruggery, finished through contact, and flexed on the defense as he pushed the lead back to nine.
And you know Kelly made that foul shot #WingsUp #TakingFlight pic.twitter.com/hiBQjg5YB7
— Juniata Athletics (@JuniataEagles) January 29, 2022
Scranton got as close as five with a jumper in the final minute at 65-60, but the Eagles made their foul shots down the stretch to clinch the win.
It was Juniata's first win over Scranton since the 2017-18 season.
The Eagles also celebrated the induction of Charles Harvey into the Juniata Hall of Fame by recognizing him at halftime.
Mr. Harvey played for the Blue and Gold from 1967 through 1971 and was a two-year team captain. Charles has the awesome honor of starting every game during his four-year career.
His place in the Juniata record books is impressive:
• He is 3rd all-time in program history with 833 career rebounds as he led his team in this category three of his four years.
• He is 5th all-time in program history with 332 career assists.
• His 111 assists during the 1969/70 season ranks 9th all-time in program history.
The Eagles will host Susquehanna Monday at 7:00.
