Junior forward Marquis Ratcliff drives down the lane in the first half at DeSales University earlier this season. Photo by Christine Fox
Junior forward Marquis Ratcliff drives down the lane in the first half at DeSales University earlier this season. Photo by Christine Fox
January 8, 2025

Moravian Holds Off Juniata for Fourth Consecutive Victory

HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball team held off a late rally from host Juniata College to post a 67-64 victory in Landmark Conference action Wednesday evening on the road.

Video Box Score

HUNTINGDON, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team held off a late rally from host Juniata College to post a 67-64 victory in Landmark Conference action Wednesday evening on the road.

How It Happened

  • The Eagles opened the contest with the first five points of the game before freshman forward Jametric Harris drained a three-pointer to get the Hounds on the scoreboard. Junior guard Chad Kratzer connected on a three-pointer to put the Blue & Grey up 6-5. Moravian pushed the advantage to 14-10 on a three-point play from junior forward Marquis Ratcliff, and the Greyhounds led 23-18 midway through the half
  • Moravian pushed its advantage to double digits at 28-18 on a three-pointer from senior guard/forward Michael Leonardo at the 8:27 mark. Kratzer hit a lay-up for a 11-point edge at 32-21 with 6:19 before the intermission, and the Greyhounds took a 38-31 advantage to the locker room after two free throws from Kratzer late in the half
  • Juniata netted the opening five points of second half to pull within two points; however, the Hounds countered with a 11-2 run to go back up by 11 points at 49-38 after a dunk from Ratcliff with 14:52 on the clock
  • The Blue & Grey took their largest lead of the night at 54-40 when Ratcliff sank two free throws at the 13:38 mark. Moravian kept the lead over eight points over the next ten minutes, and the Greyhounds led 67-57 after a jumper from Kratzer with 3:16 to go. That would be the final points of the contest for the Hounds as Juniata pulled within three points and attempted a pair of three-pointers in the final two seconds before the game ended

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had three players in three players in double figures led by Kratzer, who netted a game-high 23 points to go along with a career high nine rebounds and two assists
  • Ratcliff recorded his third double-double of the season and the 24th of his career with 16 points, 12 boards and five blocked shots for the third time in his career
  • Junior guard Porter Kelly tossed in 13 points to go with four assists and two rebounds while Leonardo had five points, three rebounds and two assists
  • Sophomore guard Taylor Perlmutter contributed four points, four rebounds and a pair of steals while Harris recorded eight boards and three points
  • Graduate student guard Alex Dietz had three points and two boards
  • The Hounds shot 20-for-57 from the field, 11-for-35 beyond the three-point line and 16-for-26 at the foul line

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Sunday, January 12 vs. Lycoming College at The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pa., 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 15 vs. The University of Scranton, 7:00 p.m.