BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to force overtime before falling to The University of Scranton, 88-80 in overtime, in Landmark Conference action in Johnston Hall Thursday evening as the squads completed the first half of the conference schedule.

How It Happened

• The Royals scored first before freshman forward Marquis Ratcliff hit a lay-up to get the Hounds on the scoreboard. The Blue and Grey knotted the score two more times before taking an 11-10 lead on a free throw from junior guard Mark Howell at the 10:05 mark
• Scranton netted the next five points and would push out to an eight-point edge, 21-13, with 7:33 until the intermission. The Royals stretched the advantage to 10 points, 35-25, before heading to the locker room with a 42-35 lead
• The Royals had a 52-40 edge with just over 16 minutes remaining when Moravian went on a 10-0 run keyed by a pair of three-pointers from freshman guard Porter Kelly to get within two points at 52-50, just over two minutes later. The Hounds eventually tied the contest at 55-55 on a lay-up from Ratcliff at the 11:56 mark
• Scranton netted the six five points, and the Royals led until junior guard Alex Dietz dropped a jumper with 4:38 to go that gave Moravian a 65-64 edge. The squads traded baskets, and the game was tied at 69-69 when Dietz and Ratcliff each made a free throw to put the Blue & Grey up 71-69 with 48 seconds remaining. The Royals knotted the score at 71-71, and neither score could move back in front in the final 25 seconds, forcing overtime, the Greyhounds first overtime contest of the season
• Scranton scored the first five points of the overtime session before Ratcliff had two free throws and a lay-up to get Moravian back within a point at 76-75 with 2:30 to play. A three-point play by Ratcliff had the score back to a point at 79-73; however, the Royals netted nine straight points to take control 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had three players in double digits with Ratcliff tying his career high of 27 points to go along with nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Kelly tossed in 20 points, all coming in the second half, to go with three rebounds and two assists while Dietz finished with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists
• Junior forward Mike DiPietro contributed nine points and four rebounds while sophomore guard/forward Michael Leonardo tied his career high and his school record with 11 assists to go with seven rebounds and three points
• Junior guard Filippo Baldo also scored three points while freshman forward Uma Kalu had two points and Howell had one point
• The Hounds were 27-for-58 from the field, 10-for-27 on three-pointers and 16-for-22 at the foul line in the game while holding a 32-29 advantage in rebounds

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, January 28 at The Catholic University of America, 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 1 at Drew University, 7:00 p.m.