Greyhounds Overcome Slow Start to Defeat Lycoming on Senior Day

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team overcame a slow start to post a 75-66 victory over visiting Lycoming College in Landmark Conference action in Johnston Hall Saturday as the Greyhounds celebrated Senior Day. 

How It Happened

• The Warriors scored the first three-pointer of the contest while senior forward Mike DiPietro had a lay-up for the Hounds. Lycoming led 7-2 before DiPietro tied the game at 7-7 with another lay-up. Down 9-7, Moravian netted eight straight points with a lay-up from junior forward Gary Francis putting the Blue & Grey up 15-9 at the 13:23 mark
• Moravian's edge reached nine points at 21-12 on a lay-up from sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff with 10:26 on the clock. However, Lycoming ran off nine straight points to move ahead 22-21. The Blue & Grey went back up by six points at 28-22 when Ratcliff drained a three-pointer, but the Warriors countered with another 7-0 run to hold a 29-29 edge with 2:49 before halftime. Francis would give the Hounds the lead for good with a jumper 55 seconds later, and Moravian headed to the locker room with a 35-30 advantage
• Lycoming scored first to begin the second half before a 7-0 run from Moravian pushed the edge to double digits at 42-32 on a Ratcliff lay-up with 16:26 to go. The Greyhounds led by as many as 13 points before a late run from the Warriors cut the edge to 65-61 with three minutes remaining. The Blue & Grey finished the contest with an 10-5 run to seal their second straight Landmark Conference victory
• Prior to tipoff, Moravian honored seniors guard Filippo Baldo, guard Alex Dietz, forward Mike DiPietro and guard Mark Howell on Senior Day

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had three players double figures led by Ratcliff, who had his tenth double-double of the season and 19th of his career with 19 points and 16 rebounds to go along with a pair of blocked shots
• Baldo tossed in a career-high 13 points while Francis had 12 points and six boards
• Howell finished with eight points and three assists while Dietz and DiPietro both scored seven points with Dietz adding four assists, three rebounds and three steals and DiPietro contributing four steals and a pair of boards
• Junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo recorded six points, four rebounds and two steals while freshman guard Taylor Perlmutter had three points, three assists and two steals and sophomore forward Uma Kalu blocked three shots
• The Hounds were 28-for-66 from the field, 7-for-24 on three-pointers and 12-for-20 at the foul line
• The Blue & Grey had a 40-38 edge on the boards and also forced the Warriors into 20 turnovers in the contest

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Wednesday, February 14 at Wilkes University, 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, February 17 at Juniata College, 2:00 p.m.