Junior guard Joel Baez shoots a three-pointer in the second half versus DeSales University in Johnston Hall. Photo by Kennedy Simons '28
Junior guard Joel Baez shoots a three-pointer in the second half versus DeSales University in Johnston Hall. Photo by Kennedy Simons '28
November 24, 2025

Moravian Drops First Game of 2025-26 Season in Six-Point Setback to DeSales

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men’s basketball team dropped its first game of the 2025-26 season, falling to visiting DeSales University, 95-89, in non-conference action in Johnston Hall Monday evening.

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball team dropped its first game of the 2025-26 season, falling to visiting DeSales University, 95-89, in non-conference action in Johnston Hall Monday evening.

How It Happened

  • The Bulldogs scored the first six points of the contest before junior guard Joel Baez drained a three-pointer to get the Greyhounds on the scoreboard. DeSales pushed out to a four-point edge at 11-7 while a three-point play and a three-pointer by senior forward Marquis Ratcliff gave Moravian its first lead of the contest at 13-11 with just over 13 minutes left in the first half. The teams traded the lead over the next four minutes before the Blue & Grey moved ahead 24-22 on a lay-up by Ratcliff with 9:11 remaining in the half
  • Racliff had a dunk on a fastbreak to make it 26-22, and Moravian would push the edge out to 36-28 on a three-pointer from senior guard Chad Kratzer at the 3:52 mark. The Hounds were up 37-28 after a Ratcliff free throw before the Bulldogs ran off eight straight points to cut the Greyhounds' advantage to 37-36 in the final minute of the opening half. Kratzer added another three-pointer as the Blue & Grey took a 40-38 lead into the intermission
  • Baez opened the second half with a lay-up, and the Hounds held a 46-44 lead until Ratcliff hit a three-point play and another lay-up to move the advantage to 51-44 just over four minutes into the half. Sophomore guard Dylan Costa made it 54-45 with a three-pointer at the 15:10 mark. However, the Bulldogs netted the next 13 points to retake a 58-54 lead with 12:24 to play
  • The Greyhounds would get back within a point at 67-66 on a three-pointer from senior forward Liam Cummiskey, but DeSales answered with a 10-0 run to take control for good. The closest Moravian would get after that was in the final seconds as Baez drained a three-pointer to make it 93-89 before the Bulldogs made two free throws to finish off the scoring

Inside the Numbers

  • Moravian had four players in double figures with Ratcliff netting a game-high 28 points to go with nine rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot
  • Baez tossed in a career-high 23 points to go along with six rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocked shots while Kratzer added 11 points, four assists, two boards and two three-pointers.
  • Cummiskey contributed 10 points, six rebounds and two assists with one steal while senior guard Porter Kelly had four rebounds and six points
  • The Hounds' bench registered 11 points with Costa adding five points and junior guard George Cutler and sophomore forward Brave Haugh each scoring three points
  • Moravian shot 31-for-68 from the field (45.6 percent), 14-for-34 on three-pointers and 13-for-17 at the free throw line while both squads grabbed 33 rebounds for 32 points in the paint for the Blue & Grey
  • The Hounds entered the contest at 4-0 on the year for just the fourth time in program history and for the first time since 1974-75. The only other two 4-0 starts were in 1962-63 and 1954-55

Up Next for the Greyhounds

  • Wednesday, December 3 vs. The University of Scranton, 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 6 at Susquehanna University, 2:00 pm.