Eagles Second Half Surge Comes Up Short Against River Hawks

HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team battled back valiantly but couldn't complete the comeback as they lost to Susquehanna University, 85-74, Wednesday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium.  

Evan Eisenhart totaled 22 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while Chase Husted tallied 19 points, 14 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Mason Hardy had seven points, three rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, while Tyler Lapetina contributed eight points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. 

Lapetina blew past his defender on the right wing and laid it in with the left hand to open the scoring. The River Hawks scored the next nine points, other than a Gabe Guidinger foul shot, before Carter Fischer drove from the left wing and finished through traffic to make it 9-5. 

Eisenhart found Husted hustling down the middle on the break for a layup to bring the Eagles within two, 9-7, with 12 minutes to go in the first half.

Susquehanna had some success from behind the three-point line, as they went on a 21-7 run to lead 30-14. 

Ty Kocak drove from the top and finished with the left hand, Fischer made two foul shots, and Hardy dropped it off to Husted for another layup, making it 30-20.

Juniata found themselves trailing by 16 at the half, 43-27. 

Eisenhart splashed a three to start the second half for the Eagles, and Husted finished inside to get back within 11 in the first minute. 

The teams traded buckets, with Eisenhart dropping another three off a Lapetina assist, and on the next offensive possession, Eisenhart drove from the left wing, spun, and laid the ball in at the rim to make it 47-38.  

The deficit grew to as many as 17 with 12 minutes to go, but the Eagles got back to work. Eisenhart made back-to-back threes and Lapetina finished inside to get the Eagles within nine with 11 minutes to go.  

Eisenhart found Lapetina on the left side of the hoop for another layup, and Kocak's two foul shots had JC back within seven with just under nine to go in the game. 

The teams traded makes, with Hardy scoring on a putback and Kyle Ruggery converting two foul shots. Guidinger nailed a three from the top of the key while being fouled; his foul shot made it 66-59. 

Hardy found Husted for a dunk to bring the Eagles within six at 69-63 with five minutes to go, but JC couldn't get any closer the rest of the way as the River Hawks held them off.  

The Eagles will travel to take on the University of Scranton this Saturday at 2:00.