Eagles Fall to #25 Cardinals in Nation's Capital

Washington, D.C.- The Juniata basketball team lost on the road at the University of Catholic, 80-59, inside the Raymond A. DuFour Center on Wednesday evening. 

Evan Eisenhart led the way with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Mason Hardy tallied 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Chase Husted totaled eight points, five rebounds, and an assist. Off the bench, Neco Campbell added six points on two three-pointers, and Ty Kocak contributed four points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. 

The Cardinals opened the game with a triple; Gabe Guidinger found Eisenhart for a jumper for the Eagles before another three from the host made it 6-2 in the first three minutes of action. 

A Husted jump shot and two Kyle Ruggery free throws brought JC within two, and after a Cardinal jumper, Campbell buried a three from the top of the key to make it 10-9. 

Catholic slowly expanded their lead to as many as 13, but the Eagles hung tough and never let it get out of reach. Elijah Kioko made a three off a Kocak assist to cut it back to 10, and later, a Carter Fischer jumper brought the deficit back to 11. 

The Eagles trailed by 12 at the half, 43-31. 

The deficit ballooned to as many as 21 in the opening nine minutes of the second half before Eisenhart made a jumper and two foul shots, Guidinger found Tyler Lapetina for a three, and Hardy converted a pair of free throws to cut it to twelve. An Eisenhart layup, off a Husted pass, brought it to 10 with nine to play, 60-50. 

A 20-9 run from the hosts doomed the Eagles down the stretch, as they couldn't get any closer. 

Juniata returns to action at home this Friday when they take on 12-1 (5-1 Landmark) Drew. Tipoff is at 2:00.