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Greyhounds Earn Landmark Conference Win over Elizabethtown

Junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo passes the ball during the first half versus Elizabethtown College in Johnston Hall.
Junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo passes the ball during the first half versus Elizabethtown College in Johnston Hall.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad earned a 78-68 win over visiting Elizabethtown College in Landmark Conference action Friday in Johnston Hall.

How It Happened

  • The Greyhounds opened the scoring with a three-pointer from junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo on their first possession of the game, and Moravian had a 9-2 edge after a three-pointer by senior guard Alex Dietz at the 17:27 mark. Another three-pointer from Dietz had the Blue & Grey holding a 16-8 edge; however, the Blue Jays scored the next eight points to knot the score, and Elizabethtown eventually took a 21-20 lead with just over nine minutes to play in the opening half
  • Moravian countered with an 8-2 run to move back ahead 28-23 on a jumper by junior forward Gary Francis with 6:09 on the clock, but Elizabethtown came back to lead 31-30 with 2:39 until the intermission. The Hounds scored the final four points of the half with a jumper by sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff sending the Blue & Grey to the locker room with a 34-31 edge
  • Dietz drained a three-pointer to begin the second half as Moravian led all 20 minutes after the intermission. Sophomore guard Porter Kelly put the Hounds up by double digits at 47-37 with a three-pointer at the 14:37 mark, and the Greyhounds' largest lead of 14 points came on a free throw by Ratcliff with 8:07 remaining that had Moravian up 60-46

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had five players in double figures led by Kelly, who tossed in 17 points to go with three assists and three boards
  • Ratcliff netted 16 points to go along with nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots while Dietz finished with 14 points, three rebounds and two assists
  • Leonardo recorded his first double-double of the season and the third of his career with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go with four blocked shots and a pair of steals while Francis added 11 points, five boards and two blocked shots
  • Senior guard Mark Howell registered six points, three rebounds and three assists while sophomore forward Liam Cummiskey had three points and four rebounds
  • The Greyhounds shot 26-for-56 from the field, 11-for-30 on three-pointers and 15-of-19 at the foul line
  • The Blue & Grey also registered a 42-36 advantage on the boards

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Sunday, January 14 vs. The University of Scranton at The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pa., 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 17 vs. Wilkes University, 7:00 p.m.