Eagles Break Away Early Against Gophers

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- A 17-0 run in the first seven minutes of Sunday's matchup against Goucher powered the Juniata men's basketball team past the Gophers by a 77-55 final scoreline. 

Chase Husted shot an efficient 9-for-15 from the field and converted all six free throws for 24 total points on the night, while Tyler Lapetina also hit double digits with 13 points with a 50% field goal percentage.  

Mason Hardy generated five steals and provided six assists with six points, while Evan Eisenhart and Gabe Guidinger each had eight points.  

On Juniata's first possession, Hardy at midcourt looped the ball to an open Eisenhart on the right wing for a three to begin Juniata's 17-point run. Two possessions later, Hardy again acted provider with a pass from inside the paint to Lapetina at the top of the arc for another three-pointer. The threes continued to rain for the Eagles; this time, Husted passed to Eisenhart again out on the right wing, getting Juniata ahead by nine points in the first three minutes to force an early Goucher timeout. 

Juniata returned from the break with four more points on a Lapetina layup and a pair of Husted free throws on their first two possessions. The run was capped by a free-throw-line jumper by Neco Campbell and two Hardy free throws. Goucher began to maintain the pace in the middle stages but struggled to chip away at the lead, with Juniata going on a 12-5 stretch in the final five minutes, including four Husted layups and a Lapetina three, for a sizeable 43-17 halftime lead. 

The gap remained relatively stable the rest of the way, with Goucher narrowly outscoring Juniata 38-34 in a foul-heavy second half, with 12 personal fouls for the Gophers and 14 for Juniata.  

Juniata is back in action in the midweek with a trip to conference-leading Catholic on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm.