Junior forward Marquis Ratcliff shoots a short jumper in the second half versus Drew University in Johnston Hall. Photo by Emma Kressler '27
Junior forward Marquis Ratcliff shoots a short jumper in the second half versus Drew University in Johnston Hall. Photo by Emma Kressler '27
November 20, 2024

Greyhounds Drop Landmark Opener to Drew as Ratcliff Reaches 1,000 Career Points

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball squad dropped an 82-75 decision to visiting Drew University in Johnston Hall Wednesday evening as the Greyhounds began their 2024-25 season with junior forward Marquis Ratcliff reaching 1,000 career points.

Program Photos Video Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad dropped an 82-75 decision to visiting Drew University in Johnston Hall Wednesday evening as the Greyhounds began their 2024-25 season with junior forward Marquis Ratcliff reaching 1,000 career points.

How It Happened

  • The Hounds opened the scoring with a three-pointer from junior guard Porter Kelly just 21 seconds into action while the Rangers netted the next five points for a 5-3 edge. Drew led 9-5 before a 7-0 run from the Blue & Grey capped by a Ratcliff lay-up had Moravian leading 12-9 at the 16:34 mark. The squads traded the lead with the Rangers eventually going ahead 20-15 with just under 13 minutes left in the first half
  • The Greyhounds rallied back and tied the contest at 25-25. Drew countered again with two baskets to move ahead 29-25 before the Hounds ran off eight straight points for a 33-29 lead on a Ratcliff fast break lay-up with 5:20 on the clock. The Blue & Grey pushed the advantage out to seven points, 44-37, on a three-pointer from Kelly with 1:48 before the intermission, and Moravian took a 45-42 edge to the locker room
  • The Rangers scored first in the second half to pull within a point at 45-44; however, the Hounds pushed the advantage back to six points on a pair of free throws from junior guard Chad Kratzer. Once again, Drew closed within two points at 55-49 before Moravian pulled away. The Blue & Grey stretched their lead to 11 points, 67-56, on a three-pointer from graduate student Alex Dietz with 12:16 remaining
  • Drew cut the deficit to five points at 67-62 before a steal and lay-up from Ratcliff had the Greyhounds leading 69-62 with 8:22 to go. The basket gave Ratcliff 1,001 points in his career as he became the 25th Moravian men's basketball player to surpass the milestone. Ratcliff added a pair of free throws to make the edge 71-62 with 7:14 on the clock; however, Drew scored the next ten points to move back in front, 72-71, with 3:43 remaining. Lay-ups from junior forward Liam Cummiskey and Ratcliff gave the Greyhounds a 75-72 lead with 2:26 to play, but the Blue & Grey would not score again as the Rangers netted the final ten points of the contest 

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had three players in double digits with Kratzer scoring a career-high 20 points to go with four rebounds
  • Ratcliff added 18 points and seven rebounds to give him 1,005 points and 481 rebounds in his career while Dietz tossed in ten points to go along with three rebounds and a pair of steals
  • Kelly finished with nine points, two boards and two assists while sophomore guard George Cutler added a career-best six points to go with a pair of steals
  • Sophomore guard Taylor Perlmutter registered four points, six rebounds and three assists while freshman forward Jametric Harris had four points, three assists and two boards
  • Senior guard/forward Michael Leonardo contributed six rebounds, six assists and two points while Cummiskey finished with two points
  • The Hounds shot 26-of-66 from the field, 10-for-27 beyond the three-point line and 13-of-17 at the charity stripe 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Saturday, November 23 vs. Susquehanna University, 4:00 p.m.
  • Monday, November 25 at DeSales University, 8:00 p.m.