BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sophomore forward Matt Bosch scored a career-high 27 points on 11-12 shooting to help the Moravian College men's basketball team outlast Berkeley (N.J.) College 83-79 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon in Johnston Hall.
The Greyhounds (3-3) overcame a seven-point first-half deficit and took a 34-31 lead into halftime. Bosch had beaten his career-high point total of 15 by the break, when he had 17 points to lead all shooters.
Moravian's run transitioned into the second half as the Hounds stretched the lead to double-digits at 42-31. The Knights responded, however, as their high-speed offense got Berkeley back within two points with 5:51 remaining. The Knights would end up taking the lead back at 70-69 with five minutes left, and led by as many as five with 3:31 remaining.
"There was a point where they went on a run in the second half," said Bosch, who added nine rebounds and three steals against Berkeley. "That's when we pulled it together, got some stops, and took some good shots on offense. That's our will to win. We've been in a couple other situations like that already this year, which have made us grow as a team. We know we need to want it more than anyone else."
Moravian turned up the pressure on both ends as a couple of defensive stops set up a good three-pointer by senior center Blake English (nine points, seven rebounds, three blocks) with 1:47 left on the clock. That trey cut the Berkeley lead to 77-76, and senior center Cameron Cullen took the lead back for good when he cleaned up his own miss under the rim and got the put back for the 78-77 lead.
Cullen and junior point guard Izel Dickerson combined on five free throws down the stretch to ice the game for the Greyhounds. Dickerson went 11-15 from the free throw line and shot 4-10 for his 21 points.
"Their pressure and their speed bothered us," head coach Jim Walker said. "We weren't getting back in transition all game, and that gave them plenty of opportunities to get in the game. The difference today was that stretch in the second half where we responded to the fast break."
Berkeley scored 14 points on the fast break, but Moravian stayed in the game with 44 points in the paint, contributing to an excellent 47 percent shooting percentage against the Knights on Sunday.
Bosch was particularly dangerous in a high-octane game that saw two ties and 10 lead changes. He scored the majority of his career-best 27 points in the paint, including a dunk with 6:21 remaining in the first half to give Moravian a 26-20 lead in the midst of an 8-2 Greyhound run. He also finished 5-7 from the charity stripe.
"Each day he's getting better," Walker said of Bosch, who missed the first three games of the season with an injury. "He's still working on his jump shot, but he's very good on the drive. We expected him to be a good player for us, and today was that first game this season he showed what kind of player he can be. The high-speed game today suited his style."
Cullen notched a double-double with a season-high 14 points and 12 boards, while adding four assists, a steal and a block. Freshman Brandon McGuire was perfect from the floor (3-3) and the free throw line (2-2) for his eight points.
Berkeley (3-4) was led by sophomore guard Dukens Germain's double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jabree Jackson added 15 points (3-8 three-pointers) and Tasheen Carrow netted 11 for the Knights, who shot 45 percent from the floor.
Despite the win, the Greyhounds took a step back in the free throw shooting department after converting 21-28 in a win at DeSales on Tuesday. Moravian only shot 57 percent (28-49) from the free throw line in Sunday's win over Berkeley.
Moravian put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and will look to extend the streak to three when they open Landmark Conference play at Juniata College on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. After a non-conference game at Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., the Greyhounds open the Landmark slate at home against The United States Merchant Marine Academy on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. in Johnston Hall.
