Peter Harding vs. Goucher 1/21/17
72
Winner Juniata JUN 10-8, 2-5 LMK
65
Elizabethtown ETOWN 4-13, 1-6 LMK
Winner
Juniata JUN
10-8, 2-5 LMK
72
Final
65
Elizabethtown ETOWN
4-13, 1-6 LMK
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Juniata JUN 42 30 72
Elizabethtown ETOWN 24 41 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Juniata outlasts Blue Jays

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- Juniata's 10-0 run to end the first half wound up being the difference maker in the Eagles' 72-65 Landmark Conference victory over the Elizabethtown men's basketball team Wednesday night at Thompson Gymnasium.

Damon Rickens hit a couple of treys on his way to a game-high 22 points and Trevor Clune provided the remaining four points as the visiting Eagles (10-8, 2-5 Landmark) bumped an eight-point lead to 18, 42-24, before the first half horn sounded.

Elizabethtown gave an inspired effort to start the second half. Senior Josh Eden scored 10 points in a 15-4 run that brought the Jays (4-13, 1-6) back within seven, 46-39, with just under 15 minutes to play. Eden had all of his team-leading 16 points in the second half.

Juniata bumped its lead out to double digits six more times in the half, but each time the Blue and Gray responded. Elizabethtown just couldn't find a timely basket or stop when it needed one. The hosts finally got it to a two-possession game when Peter Harding connected on a 3-ball from the top of the arc with 20 seconds left.

Rickens did it all for the Eagles on Wednesday, handling the ball and scoring it with the same level of success. He ended up 7 of 13 from the field and cashed in four times from downtown, tying his season-high point total, which was also just two off a career-high.

The junior guard had plenty of help, though. Center Marcus Lee completed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. All five Eagle starters were in double figures. Clune had 12 points, Brandon Martinazzi 11 and Seth Brewer 10 in support of Rickens and Lee.

Eden was able to get going after a scoreless first half. In addition to 16 points, the Slatington native picked up five boards, three blocks and two assists.

Harding was 4 of 7 from 3-point range for 15 points and freshman Ethan DuBois came off the bench to give the Blue Jays 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting.

Matt Lapkowicz was the fourth Blue Jay in double figures, registering 13 points.

Despite shooting 46 percent (23 of 50) overall, 45 percent (9 of 20) from outside and out-rebounding Juniata, 31-28, Elizabethtown shot itself in the foot with a season-high 24 turnovers.

Juniata, Elizabethtown's oldest rival, won its fourth straight against the Jays going back to the 2014-15 season. Wednesday night's game was the 152nd edition of a series that began in 1929-30.

The Blue Jays are on the road for their next two, beginning Saturday in Scranton at 2 p.m.
 
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