BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team struggled shooting early in the contest and ended up dropping a 91-83 decision to Alvernia University in the championship game of the 43rd Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall Saturday.

How It Happened

• The Golden Wolves scored the opening points of the game while the Hounds countered with a jumper and then a free throw from sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff to move ahead 3-2 a little over a minute and a half into action. That would be Moravian's only lead of the contest as Alvernia scored 11 of the next 13 points to build a 13-5 edge four and a half minutes into the game. The Blue & Grey got back within a point at 15-14 after junior forward Gary Francis sank a three-pointer at the 13:26 mark; however, the Golden Wolves responded and push the edge to double digits at 24-14 with 9:17 left in the opening half
• Alvernia saw its lead reach 11 points before the intermission but the edge was cut to 42-34 at half as Ratcliff beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer
• The Golden Wolves kept the advantage near 10 points early in the second half, but Moravian didn't go away as the Hounds came within two points at 54-52 at the 14:29 mark when junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo drained a three-pointer. That would be as close as the Greyhounds would get as Alvernia eventually led by 15 points with just under four minutes remaining

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had a balanced scoring attack with five players in double figures. Francis led the way with a team-high 18 points to go with five rebounds while senior guard Alex Dietz tossed in 17 points to go along with six assists and four boards as he earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team
• Ratcliff registered 13 points, four boards and four blocked shots while sophomore forward Liam Cummiskey recorded 12 points on four three-pointers to go with four rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocked shots
• Sophomore guard Porter Kelly contributed ten points, three assists and two rebounds while Leonardo finished with six points, four assists and a game-high 11 rebounds
• Junior forward Nate Santiago added four points while senior guard Mark Howell had three points and two rebounds
• The Hounds shot 29-for-62 from the field, 16-for-33 beyond the three-point line and 9-for-13 at the charity stripe, and the Blue & Grey also had a 36-34 edge in rebounds 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Wednesday, January 3 vs. Juniata College, 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 6 at Lycoming College, 4:00 p.m.