ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.-- The first half against Scranton on Wednesday evening proved detrimental to the Elizabethtown men's basketball team as they fell, 70-79 in Landmark Conference play. 

Rance Russo led the Blue Jays with 18 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Reese Ziegler had a career-high 16 points while EJ Finney added ten points, five rebounds, and three steals. 

The game started slow as Scranton made the first basket of the game, two minutes into the half. Minutes later, the Royals pulled out to a 13-5 lead after going on a 7-0 run. MJ Branker and Tyreke Herbert added on for Etown to bring the team within three. With seven minutes remaining in the first half, Scranton had extended their lead to 23-12 as they led by 11. Baskets from Russo, Ziegler and Niko Georgelis cut Scranton's lead to 25-19. Alon Gorham and Herbert contributed in the final seconds as Elizabethtown trailed 29-23 going into halftime. 

The second half started in a back and forth fashion with the Blue Jays down by ten. After a Russo three and two Blue Jay layups, Etown came within just three points of the Royals. Scranton then gained momentum making three straight 3-pointers to jump to a 50-34 lead. The Blue Jays slowly chipped away at Scranton's lead and after another Russo three, Etown trailed by eight. Each team traded momentum as the Royals continued to lead with four minutes remaining. Etown couldn't hold on as Scranton defeated the Blue Jays 79-70. 

Elizabethtown will travel Wilkes this Saturday, January 6 at 2PM for a Landmark Conference match-up.