Eagles Take Down Blue Jays 63-47 For Historic Win

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Marcus Lee (Carrolltown, Pa./Bishop Carroll) and Brandon Martinazzi (Cresson, Pa./Bishop Carroll) combined for 43 points as Juniata kept its winning streak going with a 63-47 victory over Elizabethtown on Wednesday night at Memorial Gym. It was the Landmark Conference opener for both teams.

The win improved Juniata's record to 6-0. It is the first time in program history that the team has won its first six games to start the season.

Martinazzi had the hot hand as he put up 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting which included going six-of-eight from beyond the three-point arc. He also grabbed five rebounds.

The Eagles led for all but 52 seconds in the game. Justin Fleming (Richmond, Va./Benedictine College Prep) and Lee got it going for Juniata to open the contest with a three-point shot and a jumper to go ahead 5-0. The Blue Jays would keep the pace with JC and not let the lead stretch too far. Juniata was up 15-11 with just under nine minutes remaining in the first half. Both teams would go cold for nearly two minutes of game time until a layup by Fleming broke the drought to put JC up 17-11.

Elizabethtown cut the Eagle lead down to three points, 17-14, with 6:16 left on the clock. Juniata was able to get some separation from the Blue Jays with a 12-8 run to end the frame with Martinazzi contributing eight points during the run that included two three-point baskets as the Eagles led 30-22 at the intermission.

A 15-6 run to begin the second half of play staked the Blue and Gold to a 45-28 lead at the 14:23 mark. E-Town was able to close the gap, as it was only a 50-40 game with 7:50 remaining to play. Not wanting to give away the game, the Eagles responded with a 13-6 run that spanned over six minutes of game time. Lee was a big factor in the run as he put up seven points to increase the Eagle lead and eventually hold off the Blue Jays.

Lee nearly had his first double-double of the season as he scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds. He was 9-of-15 from the floor.

Head coach Greg Curley had nothing but praise for both Lee and Martinazzi after the game. "They are great kids and we are excited to have them," he said. "I think the future is bright with those two."

The Eagles had their second-best shooting performance of the season as they were good on 25-of-47 (53.2%) of their field goals. JC was equally as good in three-point shots as it converted 7-of-13 (53.8%) of its attempts. The defense was able to keep the Blue Jays off balance as it held them to 2-of-10 (20%) in three-point shots.

Juniata will look to keep its hot start going this Saturday when its hosts defending conference champion Scranton. Tip off will be at 2 p.m.