Sophomore guard Porter Kelly dribbles up the court in the second half versus Hunter (N.Y.) College in the opening round of the 43rd Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall. Photo by Carly Pyatt '25
Sophomore guard Porter Kelly dribbles up the court in the second half versus Hunter (N.Y.) College in the opening round of the 43rd Steel Club Classic in Johnston Hall. Photo by Carly Pyatt '25
December 29, 2023

Moravian’s Hot Shooting Leads Squad Past Hunter into Championship Game of 43rd Steel Club Classic

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball squad shot 50 percent from the floor on the way to a 91-67 victory over Hunter (N.Y.) College in the opening round of the 43rd Steel Club Classic Friday to advance to the Championship game on Saturday evening. 

Program Photos Video Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad shot 50 percent from the floor on the way to a 91-67 victory over Hunter (N.Y.) College in the opening round of the 43rd Steel Club Classic Friday to advance to the Championship game on Saturday evening. 

How It Happened

  • The Greyhounds netted the first points of the game on a jumper from junior forward Gary Francis on the opening possession of the contest. The Hawks knotted the score twice at 2-2 and 4-4 before the Blue & Grey took the lead for good at 5-4 on a free throw by sophomore forward Marquis Ratcliff with 15:04 on the clock. Ratcliff and Francis added jumpers to push the edge 9-4 just 30 seconds later while a three-pointer by senior guard Alex Dietz extended the advantage to nine points at 15-6 with 12:13 before the intermission
  • The Blue & Grey pushed the lead into double digits with 3:22 until halftime when Dietz drained another three-pointer, and the Hounds had their largest edge of the first half at 14 points after a dunk by Ratcliff at the 2:11 mark. Sophomore guard Porter Kelly connected on a three-pointer late in the half to send the Greyhounds to the locker room with a 37-24 advantage
  • Moravian kept the lead in double figures for the entire second half. Junior forward Nate Santiago pushed the edge to 22 points at 53-31 with a three-pointer at the 14:52 mark. The Hounds' largest advantage came with 4:19 on the clock when junior guard/forward Michael Leonardo hit a lay-up for a 27-point edge at 85-58

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had three players in double figures led by Ratcliff, who had a game-high 31 points to go with nine rebounds, three blocked shots and a pair of steals
  • Dietz and Kelly each tossed in 18 points with Dietz adding five rebounds, five assists and three steals and Kelly contributing five assists and four boards
  • Santiago tossed in seven points to go with two rebounds and a pair of blocked shots while Francis and Leonardo both had four points with Leonardo recording ten rebounds and nine assists and Francis grabbing a pair of boards
  • Senior guard Mark Howell also scored four points while senior guard Filippo Baldo and freshman guard Riley Flood each tossed in two points
  • Freshman guard Taylor Perlmutter scored a point while sophomore forward Liam Cummiskey grabbed four rebounds
  • The Hounds connected on 35-of-70 field goal attempts, 10-of-31 three-pointers and 11-of-15 free throws, and the Blue & Grey held a 46-36 edge on the boards
  • Moravian will be making its 31st appearance in the Steel Club Classic Championship game, and the Greyhounds have had 16 titles 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Saturday, December 30 vs. Alvernia University in Steel Club Classic Championship Game, 5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 3 vs. Juniata College, 3:00 p.m.