BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad will host the 42nd Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall on Friday and Saturday, December 30-31.
The first two years of the tournament were played as a season-opening tournament before switching to a January tournament during the 1980-81 season. The tournament was not held in 2014-15 or 2015-16 due to a conflict with the Landmark Conference schedule and the tournament was also cancelled in 2020-21 due to the pandemic. This year also marks the first time that two tournament have been held in the same calendar year with last season's tournament held in January 2022.
Host Moravian has a 52-29 record in the 41-year history of the tournament, and the Hounds have won 17 tournament titles, most recently in January of 2014. There has been no champion since the tournament resumed in 2016 with matchups being predetermined. The Hounds will take on Bryn Athyn College on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the first game of the tournament with the Lions making their second appearance in the Steel Club Classic. Friday's second game features FDU-Florham, which is making its third tournament appearance and tournament newcomer York College of Pennsylvania playing at 6:30 p.m. The Consolation game is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be followed by the championship contest at 5:30 p.m.
The Greyhounds had an 10-day break after playing at Delaware Valley University on December 20. Moravian heads into the tournament with a 2-8 mark and an 0-1 slate in Landmark Conference action. Moravian is led by head coach Darryl Keckler, who is in his first season leading the Hounds and 15th as a collegiate coach.
Freshman forward Marquis Ratcliff leads the Greyhounds with averages of 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game to go with 20 blocked shots, 12 steals nine assists and four three-pointers while graduate student guard Danny Cooper is tossing in 12.8 points per contest with 49 assists, 38 rebounds, 18 three-pointers and 12 steals. Freshman guard Porter Kelly is netting 9.0 points per outing with 35 rebounds, 23 three-pointers, 18 assists and five steals while junior guard Alex Dietz is scoring 7.3 points per game with 21 rebounds, 14 assists, 10 three-pointers and five steals.
Sophomore forward Nate Santiago is contributing 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest with nine assists, six three-pointers, six steals and five blocked shots while freshman forward Uma Kalu and junior guard C.J. Weber are both averaging 4.8 points per game with Kalu adding 14 rebounds, five blocked shots and four steals and Weber contributing 12 three-pointers, four assists and three steals.
Junior forward Mike DiPietro has 44 points, 33 rebounds, seven assists and six three-pointers for the Hounds while senior guard Nate Dougherty has 33 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, five three-pointers and four steals. Sophmore guard/forward Michael Leonardo has added 38 rebounds, 23 points, 20 assists and five steals while junior guard Mark Howell has 22 points, eight assists and six boards and sophomore guard/forward Antonio Montgomery has 11 points and six boards.
Bryn Athyn College from Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania took a 5-3 record in its semester break, which began after a game on December 13. The Lions compete in Colonial States Athletic Conference and have not played a conference game yet this season. Bryn Athyn is led by Sean Westerlund, who is in his third season.
Sophomore guard Jamal Canady Jr. leads the Lions at 21.1 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds per contest, 26 assists, 15 steals and five three-pointers while freshman guard Will Little is adding 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per outing to go with 11 steals, eight assists and eight three-pointers. Senior forward Jaryn McCann has averages of 13.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game to go along with 19 steals, 15 assists, 11 three-pointers and nine blocked shots while junior guard Derreck Orr Jr. is netting 7.8 points per contest with 12 rebounds, eight three-pointers, five steals and four assists.
Junior guard Isaiah Cureton is scoring 7.0 points per game for Bryn Athynn with 13 three-pointers, 12 rebounds and eight steals while sophomore guard Jalen Cary has 36 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, six three-pointers and five steals. Sophomore guard Noah Riley has tossed in 28 points with 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals and nine three-pointers while junior guard Mike Mallon has 24 points and 13 rebounds and senior guard Anthony Burr has added 31 assists, 22 points, 18 rebounds and nine steals.
FDU-Florham from Madison, New Jersey headed into its break, which started after a contest on December 10, with a 1-9 overall mark. The Devils compete in MAC Freedom Conference and are 1-3 this season. FDU-Florham is led by Jeff Slanovec, who is in his fifth season.
Junior forward Matthew Johnson leads the Devils with averages of 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game to go with 10 three-pointers, nine steals, seven assists and seven blocked shots while junior guard Michael Dabas is netting 10.6 points per contest to go along with 20 rebounds, eight three-pointers, seven steals and five assists. Sophomore guard Jamal Santan is scoting 9.6 points per outing with 17 rebounds, nine assists, nine three-pointers and nine steals while junior guard/forward Brian Nichols has averages of 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game with 18 three-pointers, 14 assists, 12 steals and seven blocked shots.
Sophomore guard Carson Woods is tossing in 7.1 points per contest with 46 rebounds, 26 assists and 16 steals while sophomore center Michael Morrissey has 48 points, 33 rebounds, five blocked shots and four assists. Freshman guard Andre Macaranaes has added 24 points, 15 rebounds, 11 steals and six assists while freshman guard James Zingaro has 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds and freshman guard/forward Joseph Carney has contributed 17 points, 19 rebounds, five steals and four assists.
York College from York, Pennsylvania took a 4-6 record in its semester break, which began after a game on December 20. The Spartans compete in MAC Commonwealth Conference and are 0-4 this season. York is led by Matt Hunter, who is in his 11th season.
Sophomore guard Jackson Mascari leads the Spartans with averages of 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game to go along with 30 a ssists, 14 steals and seven three-pointers while sophomore forward Kai Cipalla is contributing 12.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest with 11 assists, 11 steals, six blocked shots and five three-pointers. Junior guard Chris Miers is netting 11.9 points per outing to go along with 26 rebounds, 16 three-pointers, 16 steals and 10 assists while freshman guard Jayden Rowe is scoring 9.6 points per game to go with 40 assists, 39 rebounds, 16 steals, 15 three-pointers and five blocked shots.
Graduate student guard Sean Kelly is tossing in 5.6 points per contest to go with 38 rebounds, 24 assists and eight steals while freshman guard Tate Landis is recording 5.2 points per outing with 24 rebounds, 15 assists, 10 steals and seven three-pointers. Junior guard Johnny Kennevan has 41 points, 13 rebounds, 12 three-pointers and nine assists for the Spartans while freshman guard Nick Schroeder has contributed 28 points, 16 rebounds, nine steals and six three-pointers and freshman forward Pat Gilhool has 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on the year.
