BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's basketball team rallied from a 17-point deficit just 1:08 into the second half to defeat Juniata College, 70-61, on Saturday in Johnston Hall in Landmark Conference showdown.
"It was a very satisfying win," commented Head Coach Jim Walker. "We have had a fair number of games where we were ahead in the second half and haven't won and we have had other games where we have gotten behind by double figures and gave up, so this is a game we didn't and once we got going we were brutal."
Senior guard Izel Dickerson led the squad with 19 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals. Sophomore forward Brandon McGuire scored 12 points, seven rebounds and had two steals. Junior guard Jarrod Dilts tossed in 10 points, brought down two rebounds and two assists while senior forward Garrett Kashmer had eight points, four rebounds, one assist and one block.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Jennings added six points, three rebounds, one steal and one rebound. Junior forward Ryan O'Neil, sophomore Sean Hanna and freshman Jack Aussenheimer all contributed five points. Hanna had three steals, two assists and one rebound while O'Neil had two steals and six rebounds.
In the first half, the Greyhounds jumped out to a quick five-point lead courtesy of a Jennings lay-up and a Dilts three-pointer. From there the Eagles would bounce back, and the teams would trade baskets keeping it a close game within five points. The visitors would take control and extend a 13-point lead going into halftime 40-27.
In the second half, Moravian would battle to cut the deficit to 3-points by a three-pointer by Aussenheimer and a layup the by Hanna the next time down the court brought it to a one point game. With 7:52 left to play the Hounds took control after O'Neil converted a three point play. A three-pointer by Dickerson, a layup by McGuire and a free throw from Dickerson gave the Blue and Grey a seven point lead with 4:49 left to play. Dilts would add seven points to extend the lead by 12 points with 49 seconds to play. The Hounds would close out the game with their second Landmark win.
Moravian had its best half on the offensive end during the final 20 minutes as the squad connected on 16-of-22 field goal attempts (72.7 percent) including 6-of-9 behind the three-point arc.
The Greyhounds travel to United States Merchant Marine Academy looking for their third Landmark Conference win on Wednesday, January 28 for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. Moravian returns home to Johnston Hall on Saturday, January 30 to face The Catholic University of America.
