HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's basketball squad earned its second straight overtime win and fifth consecutive victory with an 83-76 triumph at Juniata College in Landmark Conference action Saturday.
The Hounds are now 15-6 overall on the year and 8-2 in Landmark Conference play.
Moravian had three players in double figures led by senior guard Jimmy Murray, who had 24 points including a buzzer-beating jumper in the lane to force overtime as he moved into seventh in school history with 1,420 points. Junior forward Addis Ralph tossed in 18 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of assists while senior forward Oneil Holder added 10 points, three steals, two assists and a pair of boards to increase his career point total to 1,488.
Junior guard C.J. Barnes contributed nine points and five rebounds while senior guard Will Brazukas had eight points, two steals and a pair of assists. Junior guard Elijah Davis also scored eight points with four rebounds while senior guard Nicholas Casazza connected on a pair of three-pointers for six points to go along with two rebounds. Sophomore guard Shon Wilson added three steals and two assists while junior guard Mike Martino and freshman forward Steve Breeman each pulled down two rebounds.
The Greyhounds were 28-of-54 from the field, 10-for-23 beyond the three-point line and 17-for-21 at the foul line in the victory while forcing the Eagles into 24 turnovers.
Juniata scored the first four points of the contest before a jumper from Murray and a three-pointer by Davis had the Hounds up 5-4. The Eagles answered to retake a one-point lead before a three-pointer from Casazza made it 8-6 Moravian. Juniata tied the contest before Ralph hit a pair of free throws and a three-pointer for a 13-8 edge for the Greyhounds. Holder drained two free throws to push that advantage to 10 points at 20-10 with 9:51 left in the first half, and Brazukas made the Blue and Grey's lead, 25-12, with a jumper at the 8:19 mark.
However, the Eagles scored 13 straight points to tie the contest at 25-25 before a three-pointer by Murray ended the run. Ralph would make it an eight-point edge, 33-25, two minutes before the intermission, and the Greyhounds headed to the locker room with a 33-29 lead.
Juniata scored first in the second half before a three-point play by Holder and a jumper from Murray had the Hounds leading 38-31. The Eagles fought back and would eventually knot the score at 45-45 before back-to-back three-pointers form Davis and Casazza restored the Moravian lead to six points with 12:27 remaining. Juniata closed within a point twice, and the Eagles would take a 66-64 lead with 29 seconds to go. Barnes connected on a pair of free throws to knot the score again before Juniata hit a basket with five seconds left for a two-point edge. Murray took the inbounds pass, dribbled the length of the court and put up a floating jumper in the lane just before the horn sounded to tie the contest at 68-68 and force overtime.
The Eagles scored first in the extra period before a jumper and three-pointer by Murray had the Hounds up 73-70. The Blue and Grey headed to the final 25 seconds of the game with a 79-74 lead after a lay-up from Ralph. Barnes and Murray would each hit one foul shot and Brazukas sank two free throws to seal the victory.
Moravian is scheduled to travel to The University of Scranton on Wednesday, February 6 for a Landmark Conference game beginning at 7:00 p.m.
