BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's basketball team has earned the second seed in the 2019 Landmark Conference Tournament and will host third seed Susquehanna University in a semifinal game on Thursday, February 21 with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall. This is a date change due to the impending winter weather on February 20.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children. All youth under the age of 10 are admitted free as are all students, faculty and staff with a valid ID from any of the eight Landmark Conference institutions. College students without a Landmark school ID and seniors are $4.
The Greyhounds, who are the second seed in the tournament for the third straight winter, are 17-8 overall this season and completed the Landmark regular season with a 10-4 mark while the River Hawks are 16-9 overall and 9-5 in Landmark action. During the regular season, each team won on its home floor with Moravian capturing an 86-81 victory in Johnston Hall on January 23 and the River Hawks winning 98-89 in Selinsgrove on February 13.
Thursday's other semifinal game has top seed Drew University hosting fourth seed The University of Scranton at 7:00 p.m. The top remaining seed will host the 2019 Landmark Conference title game on Sunday, February 24 at 1:00 p.m. with an automatic berth to the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament on the line.
Moravian Head Coach Justin Potts has the Greyhounds in the postseason for the third straight year in just his fourth season back at the school, and he has a 67-39 career record. The Blue and Grey are looking to defend their Landmark Conference Championship. This winter marks the Hounds' fifth trip to the Landmark Conference Tournament and the ninth time in 82 seasons the program has won 17 games after setting the school record with 20 victories a year ago.
The Hounds enter the postseason having won six straight in Johnston Hall with at least 79 points in each game four in a row with more than 86 points.
Leading the squad on the court have been seniors forward Oneil Holder and guard Jimmy Murray. Holder tops the squad at 17.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to go along with 66 assists, 43 steals, 26 blocked shots and 24 blocked shots while Murray is netting 14.3 points per contest to go with 59 rebounds, 45 three-pointers, 42 assists and 22 steals. Holder, who has played in a school record 106 career games, is fifth all-time with 1,571 points and tied for seventh with 685 rebounds while Murray is seventh in school history with 1,477 points.
Junior guard C.J. Barnes is contributing 13.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing to go with 54 three-pointers, 16 steals and 14 assists while senior guard Nicholas Casazza is scoring 9.0 points per game with 54 three-pointers, 53 rebounds, 38 assists and 26 steals this winter. Junior guard Elijah Davis is adding 6.2 points per contest with 72 rebounds, 29 assists, 28 steals, 25 three-pointers and 16 blocked shots while junior forward Addis Ralph is netting 5.6 points per outing with 48 rebounds, 15 three-pointers and 10 assists and junior forward John Hargraves had 87 points, 37 rebounds and 11 blocked shots before being sidelined with an injury.
Senior guard Will Brazukas leads Moravian with 78 assists to go along with 62 rebounds, 30 steals and a 4.8 point per game scoring average. Sophomore guard Matt O'Connor has contributed 100 points, 39 rebounds, 33 assists, 18 steals and 17 three-pointers while freshman forward Steve Breeman has 84 points, 47 rebounds, 15 three-pointers and 12 assists in his debut season. Sophomore guard Keith Otto has added 71 points, 47 rebounds, 19 assists, 13 steals and 11 three-pointers while sophomore guard Shon Wilson has 53 points, 33 rebounds, 12 steals and 10 three-pointers this winter. Junior guard Mike Martino has contributed 54 assists, 47 rebounds, 22 points and 15 steals while freshman guard Noel Karameros had three rebounds and two assists before being sidelined for the season.
