GRANTHAM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad defeated host Messiah University, 78-62, in the Greyhounds' final non-conference contest of the 2024-25 campaign on the road Saturday afternoon.

How It Happened

• The Hounds opened the scoring on the first possession with a lay-up from freshman forward Jametric Harris. Junior guard Chad Kratzer sank a free throw for a 3-0 edge before the Falcons scored four straight points to take a one-point lead. Kratzer converted a three-point play, and junior forward Marquis Ratcliff made a lay-up for a four-point advantage. Junior forward Liam Cummiskey connected on a three-pointer to push the edge just over six minutes into action, and a three-pointer by junior guard Porter Kelly had the lead at 15-9
• However, Messiah netted the next seven points to take a 16-15 edge. The Blue & Grey took the lead for good at the 10-minute mark as Harris drained a three-pointer for a 20-18 edge. Harris pushed the run to seven points when he converted a three-point play at the 8:32 mark, and the Hounds saw the lead reach double digits at 36-25 when Harris sank a lay-up with 3:11 left in the first half. The Greyhounds headed to the locker room leading 40-31
• The Falcons scored the opening points of the second half to pull within seven points while Ratcliff hit a three-pointer at the 19:02 mark to put Moravian's lead into double digits for the rest of the contest. The Hounds' largest lead of the afternoon came at the 10:37 mark when graduate student guard Alex Dietz drained a three-pointer for a 61-38 advantage

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had four players score in double figures led by Harris, who netted a career-high 21 points to go with six rebounds
• Kratzer tossed in 13 points with six rebounds and a pair of assists while Ratcliff and Dietz each had ten points with Ratcliff adding seven boards, four blocked shots and four steals
• Cummiskey registered nine points, four rebounds and three assists while Kelly had seven points, three assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals
• Sophomore guard George Cutler and junior guard Colin Farrell each had four points with Cutler contributing three rebounds and Farrell adding three steals
• Senior forward Michael Leonardo grabbed seven rebounds to go with three assists while sophomore guard Taylor Perlmutter posting four boards
• The Hounds were 27-for-68 from the field, 11-for-33 on three-pointers and 13-of-18 at the charity stripe
• The Blue & Grey had a 44-38 advantage on the boards including 12-6 on the offensive glass, and Moravian forced Messiah into 15 turnovers while committing just 12 turnovers

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Wednesday, January 8 at Juniata College, 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, January 12 vs. Lycoming College at The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pa., 7:30 p.m.