ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Tyler Simpkiss tied his season-high with 27 points and the Elizabethtown men's basketball team held on down the stretch to defeat Moravian 72-66 Saturday afternoon at Thompson Gymnasium. With the win, the Blue Jays evened their Landmark Conference record at 3-3.

Simpkiss got going early, scoring 12 points in the first half, but he was at his finest in second when he made all but one of his seven shots, including all three of his 3-point field goals, for 15 points.

As a team, the Blue Jays were able to force Moravian (1-12, 0-5 Landmark) into a 38.3% shooting average (23-of-60), more than four percent below its season shooting average.

Elizabethtown (5-9, 3-3 Landmark) outscored the Greyhounds by three points in each half, finally seizing control of the game late in the second half. Leading 57-53, Evan Hathaway found Simpkiss for a 3-pointer with 7:25 left to push the lead out to seven. It would remain a 2-or-3 possession game the rest of the way.

Simpkiss delivered five rebounds an assist and a block in 33 minutes. Lee Eckert recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, as the Blue Jays enjoyed a 44-34 advantage on the glass.

Phil Wenger provided 10 points, three assists and three steals off the bench. Wenger returned from illness after missing Thursday's game at Juniata.

Moravian leading scorer Brandon McGuire was held two points below his season average, but finished with a double-double of 14 points and 13 boards. Still, E-town forced McGuire to take 15 shots in order to get his 14 points, and the Greyhound sophomore made just five of those 15 attempts. Izel Dickerson and Ryan O'Neil finished with 11 points apiece for the visitors.

Hathaway provided the Jays with seven board and six points. Josh Eden, drawing his first start in 11 games, grabbed five rebounds and scored four points in 17 minutes.

E-town improved to 32-40 all-time against the Hounds. Saturday's meeting was the first between old Commonwealth Conference rivals since Moravian bolted for the Landmark at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season.

The Blue Jays host Drew Wednesday in another critical league game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.