WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Moravian College men's basketball team rallied back to take its first lead of the game with just over 12 seconds remaining only to see host The Catholic University of America hit a winning three-pointer with two seconds left for a 90-88 win over the Greyhounds Saturday in the final Landmark Conference game of the regular season.
The Hounds saw their seven-game winning streak snapped and finish the regular season at 18-7 overall and 10-4 in Landmark Conference play, tied for the top spot but the Greyhounds will be the second seed in the 2018 Landmark Conference Tournament and host third seed Drew University in a Semifinal game on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall.
Moravian had four players in double figures led by junior guard Jimmy Murray with 25 points including six three-pointers, three rebounds and three assists. Junior forward Oneil Holder, junior guard Nicholas Casazza and sophomore forward C.J. Barnes all scored 15 points for the Hounds. Holder added four rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals while Casazza contributed six rebounds, four three-pointers and a pair of steals and Barnes had two rebounds.
Sophomore guard Elijah Davis tossed in six points while freshman guard Matt O'Connor had five points. Sophomore forward Addis Ralph added four points, four boards and a pair of blocked shots while sophomore guard Mike Martino contributed three points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds. Junior guard Will Brazukas had a team-high six assists to go with three rebounds.
The Greyhounds, who reached 88 points for the seventh straight game and scored more than 50 points in the second half for the fourth consecutive contest, connected on 26-of-64 field goal attempts, 15-of-37 three-pointers and 21-of-23 free throw attempts. Moravian's pressure defense forced the Cardinals into 17 turnovers.
Catholic scored the first nine points of the game before Murray knocked down a three-pointer three and a half minutes into action. Barnes hit a lay-up to pull the Blue and Grey within three points, 11-8, but the Cardinals would stretch the lead out to 10 points, 20-10, with 11:36 left in the first half. Back-to-back three-pointers by Murray would cut the deficit to four points, 29-25, with 7:28 to play until the intermission. The Hounds would get within two points, 35-33, after a three-pointer from Martino with 2:39 until halftime but Catholic scored nine of the final 11 points of the half to head to the locker room with a 44-35 advantage.
The Cardinals scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 16-point lead just 1:24 into the half. Moravian would get within eight points, 60-52, after three free throws from Casazza at the 13-minute mark. Trailing by 10 points, Murray and O'Connor hit back-to-back three-pointers and a jumper in the lane by Murray had the Hounds down just two points, 65-63, with 10:17 to play. Catholic moved back ahead by 10 points before the Greyhounds knotted the score at 83-83 on a three-pointer by Casazza with 2:35 remaining. The Blue and Grey took their first lead of the game, 88-87, on a three-point play by Barnes with 12.4 seconds left, however, the Cardinals hit a three-pointer with two seconds left for the win and give Catholic the fourth seed in the Landmark Conference Tournament and a trip to top seed Juniata College in the Semifinals.
Moravian will play at home in the Landmark Conference Semifinals for the second straight year as the Hounds welcome Drew to Johnston Hall on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m.
