Lions Fend Off Eagles

ALTOONA, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team lost on the road to Penn State Altoona, 78-64, Tuesday evening. 

Mason Hardy totaled 15 points, four assists, and three steals, while Ayden Hurley had 15 points, four rebounds, three steals, and an assist. Jordan Shifler added eight points and two rebounds off the bench.

The Lions scored the first six points before Hurley converted a three of a Hardy assist. Hurley converted two jump shots and a three to eventually tie the game at 10-10 six minutes in. A Jayden Bilger foul shot momentarily gave Juniata the lead, but the Lions went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes before Hardy found Shifler for a mid-range jumper to break the cold spell. 

The deficit grew to as much as 14, but the Eagles managed to claw back. A pair of Hardy foul shots in the final seconds of the half made it 39-32, as JC trailed by seven at the half. 

Juniata got within three inside of the first five minutes of the half, with threes from Hurley and Hardy along with a Lapetina layup, making it 47-44. The seesaw battle between the teams went on for over 10 minutes as the Eagles consistently never let the deficit grow larger than nine but couldn't get it down further than three. 

Another Shifler jumper on a Bilger assist made it 66-60, but the Eagles went cold from the field as the Lions went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes. 

Morris Ivery assisted a William Littles Jr. jumper with 1:30 to play, making it 78-62, and Parker Wood's tip-in was the final bucket of the game.  

Juniata returns home to host Lebanon Valley on Saturday at 1:00.