COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Moravian College men's basketball team defeated Ursinus College, 81-76, Monday night. Senior guard Garrett Johnson led the way for the Greyhounds (5-1) with a career-high 25 points to go with his three assists and three steals.
Junior guard Jesse Krasna started the game off quickly with a three-pointer for the Bears (3-4). Junior center Cameron Cullen then made a layup, and Johnson hit a deep three-pointer to put Moravian up 5-3 two minutes in. Free throws from senior forward Jon Ward and a layup from Krasna made the score 7-5, Ursinus, but a rainbow three from senior guard D.J. Strayhorn put the Greyhounds back on top.
The Bears then went on a 12-4 run capped by a three-pointer and jumper from freshman guard Malik Draper to make the score 19-12, Bears six minutes into the game. A mid-range jumper from Cullen snapped the Bears run 15 seconds later. Three's from sophomore guard Izel Dickerson and junior center Blake English brought Moravian within three points of the lead half way through the first half at 25-22.
Ursinus pulled away again but a jump shot from Johnson and a layup from Cullen kept the Greyhounds within three points of the lead at 43-31 with three minutes remaining in the half. Both teams exchanged buckets down the stretch and a last second layup from Ward would give Ursinus a 41-35 lead going into the locker room.
The Greyhounds shot 45-percent from the field while the Bears shot 58-percent from the field in the first half. Ursinus held the edge in rebounds, 17-13, while Moravian committed four less turnovers. Strayhorn led the Hounds in the first 20 minutes with ten points and three assists while Ward put up 12 points for the Bears.
Strayhorn would tally the first bucket of the second half with a quick layup ten seconds in. Two minutes in, Johnson drove to the hoop for the layup while drawing the foul. He converted the three-point play to bring Moravian within one point of the lead. 15 seconds later Cullen put in a layup after senior forward Aaron Thieme made a big block at the other end to make the score 46-45, Moravian.
Minutes later a layup from Draper put the Bears up 49-46 with 15:46 to play. Dickerson then lined up a three at the 13 minute mark, but Krasna answered with back-to-back three-pointers. Dickerson then nailed another three to make the score 58-53, Ursinus with 11:34 remaining in the game. Johnson followed a minute later with a three-pointer of his own. After a Ursinus bucket, junior guard Kenny Gula hit a three of his own to bring the Hounds within one point. English then gave Moravian its lead back with a layup at 61-60 with 9:31 to play.
Senior forward Kevin Janowski would drive to the hoop for the layup to put the Bears back on top at 63-61 with 8:20 remaining. Johnson answered with a layup and three-pointer to tie and retake the lead at 66-63 with 6:31 to play in the contest.
With 3:40 left on the clock Krasna drilled another three-pointer to bring the Bears back within one point of the lead at 68-67. Johnson came right back with three from the corner to put the Hounds up by four with three minutes to play. A three-pointer from Thieme would put the game out of reach at 74-67 with 43 seconds left in the game. Moravian would go onto win 81-76.
Strayhorn put up 18 points and six assists while Cullen added 13 points and six rebounds. Dickerson finished with ten points and two assists while English had eight points and six rebounds. Thieme had seven board, two blocks and four points in the contest.
Krasna led the Bears with 27 points and four boards while Ward had 17 points and five rebounds. Draper put up 13 points and six rebounds while junior guard Pat Vasturia had four assists and seven points.
The Greyhounds shot 48-percent from the field while the Bears shot 47-percent from the field in the game. Ursinus held the rebound advantage at 36-33 while Moravian committed four less turnovers.
The Greyhounds return to the court on Saturday, December 8th as they host Landmark Conference foe The United States Merchant Marine Academy. The contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.
