WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Moravian College men's basketball squad posted its first win in the nation's capital in eight years as the Greyhounds posted a 59-56 triumph at The Catholic University of America in Landmark Conference action Saturday afternoon.
The Hounds, now 10-9 overall and 5-3 in Landmark Conference play, earned their first victory at Catholic since a 96-86 victory on January 28, 2012. Moravian had a pair of players in double figures Saturday led by freshman guard Greg Eck, who tossed in a game-high 19 points including 17 in the second half to go with five three-pointers, four rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocked shots. Senior guard C.J. Barnes added 13 points including two free throws with 6.3 seconds left to seal the win, and Barnes added two blocked shots and two boards.
Junior guard Matt O'Connor scored nine points to go with four rebounds and four assists while senior forward Addis Ralph pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds to go with six points and a pair of assists. Senior forward John Hargraves contributed four points and three rebounds while freshman guard Nate Dougherty and junior guard Deandre Tillett each had three points and two boards with Tillett also dishing out five assists and making three steals. Senior guard Mike Martino added four rebounds, two points and two assists.
Barnes and O'Connor hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the contest, giving the Blue and Grey and early 6-0 lead. Catholic would come back and take a 12-11 edge with 13:20 on the clock before a jumper from Ralph and another three-pointer by O'Connor had the Hounds leading 16-12 a minute later. The Cardinals moved back in front at 19-18 before a three-pointer from Dougherty flipped the lead back to Moravian at 21-19 with six minutes left before the intermission. Catholic went on a 9-2 run to take a five-point lead at 28-23, and the Cardinals hit a late three-pointer to head to the locker room with a 31-27 edge after 20 minutes of action.
Eck opened the second half with a three-pointer, and he second trey of the half would knot the score at 33-33. Eck, who netted the first 11 points of the half for the Greyhounds, make a pair of free throws with 15:43 on the clock to give the Blue and Grey a 38-33 advantage. Catholic would make it a one-point game before an 8-0 run capped by back-to-back baskets from Ralph, had Moravian up 48-39, with 12 minutes remaining. Eck drained another three-pointer to give the Hounds a double-digit lead at 51-41 while a three-pointer from Barnes had the Greyhounds up 54-44 with 7:48 to play.
The Cardinals netted the game's next eight points to pull within two points at 54-52 with 3:49 to go before Barnes hit a three-pointer at the 2:20 mark to give Moravian a 57-52 edge. Catholic netted four points to cut it to a one-point contest with 7.4 seconds left before Barnes sank his final two free throws a second later. The Cardinals would have a three-point attempt to tie the score but Eck blocked the shot and Ralph came up with the rebounds for the Blue and Grey.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action Wednesday, February 5 when the squad travels to Drew University for a Landmark Conference game beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Madison, New Jersey.
