Bison Comeback Late to Upend Eagles
HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker, 65-61, to the visiting Bethany College, Wednesday evening inside Memorial Gymnasium.
Ty Kocak led the way with 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Joe Bruce added 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and a block. William Littles Jr. contributed seven points, an assist, and four steals off the bench.
The Eagles started off strong, jumping ahead 18-10 over the first 10 minutes as they made the Bison earn every point.
A few minutes later, Kocak drove inside, finished through contact to make it 25-15 with just under six minutes to go in the half.
Tre Yawn turned defense into offense, stealing the ball and taking it all the way to the hoop for a layup. The Bison closed the gap, as the Eagles led by three, 31-28, at the half.
The Eagles scored 18 of their 31 points in the paint in the first half, as they constantly put pressure on the rim. Littles added five points off the bench, while Noah Bailey tallied three points, five rebounds, and a steal off the bench in the first half.
Early in the second half, a Joe Bruce block on one end saw Jayden Bilger find Kocak for a layup on the other. After another Bethany turnover, Kocak turned provider, finding Bruce for a three to make it 36-32.
Later in the half, Aze picked up a loose ball, took two dribbles, and dunked the ball to extend the Juniata lead to 10, 55-45, with six and a half minutes to play.
Bethany surged back into the game, including a four-point play, to go on an 11-0 run and take the lead 56-55.
Griffith snagged an offensive rebound and laid it back in to put Juniata back ahead by one, 57-56.
Kocak scored inside on a difficult drive from the left wing, but the Bison answered with two foul shots on the other end as Juniata trailed 60-59 with just under 47 seconds to go in the game.
Kocak got the ball again, drew a foul, and split his foul shots to tie the game at 60.
The Bison called a timeout, and coming out of it, ran time down before drilling a three from the left corner to go up 63-60.
Bruce got fouled with five seconds left on the clock on a jumper and split his foul shots. Juniata fouled, Bethany made both of their foul shots, and saw the game out.
Bethany had a 50-39 advantage on the glass, while the Eagles outscored them in the paint 30-20.
Juniata takes a break in action for finals and the holidays, returning to the hardwood for the Doc Greene Tournament when they host Central Penn College, December 29 at 7:00.
