BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team earned its first Landmark Conference win of the 2023-24 season with a 78-55 victory over visiting Goucher College in Johnston Hall Wednesday evening.

How It Happened

• The Gophers netted the first two points of the game before senior guard Alex Dietz put the Hounds on the board with a lay-up. The Blue & Grey took the lead for good at the 17-minute mark as junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo hit his second of back-to-back lay-ups as part of a 12-0 run that gave Moravian a 14-4 lead after two free throws from junior forward Gary Francis with 14:32 to play in the opening half
• The Greyhounds saw Goucher get back within three points at 20-17 with just over seven minutes left in the first period; however, Moravian went on a 15-2 run to stretch the advantage to 35-19 with 3:16 until the break. Sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff made a lay-up to finish off the scoring in the first half and send the Hounds to the locker room with a 39-26 edge
• Ratcliff also netted the opening two points of the second half with another lay-up. Moravian kept its advantage in double digits for the remainder of the game with Goucher getting within 11 points once, and the Hounds leading by as many as 23 points at the end of the contest

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had three players in double figures led by Ratcliff, who had a game-high 25 points to go with 16 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and tenth of his career. Ratcliff also recorded a career-high four assists to go with a pair of blocked shots
• Francis contributed 14 points, six rebounds and two assists while Leonardo tossed in 11 points and came close to a triple-double with nine assists and seven rebounds to go along with three steals and a pair of blocked shots
• Sophomore guard Porter Kelly had eight points and four assists while Dietz recorded six points, three boards and three assists
• Sophomore forward Uma Kalu registered four points and two rebounds while freshman guard Taylor Perlmutter and sophomore forward Liam Cummiskey both connected on three-pointers with Cummiskey adding two assists
• Senior guard Mark Howell and senior forward Mike DiPietro both had two points with Howell dishing out a pair of assists and DiPietro blocking two shots
• The Greyhounds connected on 30-of-65 field goals attempts, 5-of-19 three-pointers and 13-of-21 free throws in the game
• The Blue & Grey also had a 48-46 edge on the boards while forcing the Gophers into 18 turnovers 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, December 9 vs. The Catholic University of America, 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 16 vs. Keystone College, 3:00 p.m.