BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a 77-64 victory over visiting Penn State Berks in non-conference action in Johnston Hall Saturday evening. 

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds opened the scoring on a jumper from junior guard Gary Francis. The Nittany Lions pulled ahead 5-4, and Penn State Berks eventually took a 19-14 edge with 10:39 left in the first half
• The Blue & Grey scored seven of the next nine points with senior guard Alex Dietz draining a three-pointer to knot the score at 21-21 with 7:25 until the intermission. Moravian took the lead for good with just under a minute to go in the first half as junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo drilled a three-pointer for a 29-28 edge, and a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff sent the Hounds to the locker room with a 33-28 advantage
• Ratcliff started the second half with a lay-up, and he connected on a pair of free throws at the 14:47 mark that pushed the Blue & Grey edge into double digits at 45-35. Penn State Berks got back within three points at 47-44, but the Hounds countered with a 18-2 run capped by a three-pointer from Leonardo for a 62-49 lead with 7:57 to play. Moravian kept the advantage above seven points the rest of the way

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had three players in double figures led by Ratcliff, who tossed in a career high 31 points to go with seven rebounds and a pair of steals
• Leonardo contributed a career high 13 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots while Francis had 14 points and two assists in his first game with the Greyhounds
• Dietz tossed in eight points to go along with four rebounds and four assists while junior forward Nate Santiago had five points. Sophomore guard Liam Cummiskey finished with three points, three boards and a pair of assists while senior forward Mike DiPietro had two points and sophomore guard Porter Kelly added five rebounds and one point
• The Hounds connected on 27-of-55 field goal attempts, 7-of-22 three-pointers and 16-of-20 free throw attempts, and Moravian had a 37-36 edge on the boards

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Wednesday, November 15 at Muhlenberg College, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, November 18 vs. Rutgers-Camden, 2:00 p.m.