MADISON, N.J. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit to take a lead in the second half before falling to host Drew University, 82-78, in the opening game of the 2023-24 Landmark Conference season Wednesday evening. 

How It Happened

• The Hounds opened the scoring on a layup from junior forward Gary Francis, but the Rangers would end up with an 11-6 lead four minutes into the contest. Moravian knotted the score at 14-14 on a layup by sophomore forward Uma Kalu; however, Drew went on a 16-5 run to open up a 30-19 edge with 5:41 left in the first half
• The Blue & Grey closed the gap to six points at 33-27 on a layup from sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff. The Rangers countered and push the advantage back to 10 points before Ratcliff sank a pair of late free throws to send the squads to the locker room with Drew holding a 41-33 edge
• The Rangers netted the first points of the second half before a 7-0 run from the Hounds cut the deficit to 43-40 with 17:17 left as senior guard Alex Dietz sank a free throw. Ratcliff scored seven straight points to give Moravian a 49-47 lead at the 14-minute mark, and the Greyhounds were up 56-53 after a three-pointer by senior guard Mark Howell with just under 11 minutes to play
• The game would go back-and-forth for the next seven minutes with the lead changing sides 10 times. The Hounds led 73-70 with 3:43 remaining after Ratcliff drained a free throw, but an 8-0 run from Drew put the Rangers ahead for good at 78-73 with just 1:39 left 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had two players in double figures with Ratcliff tossing in a career-high 32 points, his second 30-plus point game of the year, to go with 14 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and ninth of his career
• Sophomore guard Porter Kelly netted 11 points to go along with five rebounds and a pair of steals while junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo added eight points, six rebounds and four assists
• Howell finished with seven points while Dietz and sophomore forward Liam Cummiskey both scored five points with Dietz adding five assists, four boards and two steals and Cummiskey grabbing three rebounds
• Francis recorded four points and three boards while freshman guard Taylor Perlmutter had four points and a pair of assists and Kalu scored two points
• The Greyhounds were 29-for-50 from the field, 4-for-10 beyond the three-point line and 16-of-19 at the foul line in the game
• The Blue & Grey finished the night with a 40-30 advantage on the board despite 16 offensive rebounds by the Rangers 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, December 2 at Susquehanna University, 2:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 6 vs. Goucher College, 7:00 p.m.