(Posted February 15, 2005)

Juniata 70, Susquehanna 54

Selinsgrove, Pa. ? The Juniata College men?s basketball team put together one of its best defensive efforts of the season as the Eagles held Susquehanna to 54 points as the Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak with a 70-54 victory in Selinsgrove Tuesday evening. The win improved Juniata to 9-15 on the year and 4-9 in the Commonwealth Conference. Susquehanna fell to 3-20 overall and 0-13 in conference play.

The victory was the first Juniata win at Susquehanna since the 1992-93 season. The Eagles limited the Crusaders to 26-percent shooting on the game, including 21-percent in the first half to take a 29-18 lead. Leading 11-9 after a hoop from Susquehanna?s Bubba Mills, Juniata put together a 11-0 run over the next eight minutes to take a 22-9 lead. The lead expanded to 13 twice in the first half, before a basket late in the half sent Juniata into the locker room leading by 11.

Juniata also found its offensive rhythm in the second half though the home team made a run early in the second stanza. A quick basket and then a three-point play pulled Susquehanna within six at the 17:50 remaining in the game. Juniata quickly answered with an 11-0 run that included a three from Travis Boyd (Juniata Valley/Barree) and then a steal and lay-in from Tommy McConnell (Bishop Guilfoyle/Hollidaysburg) to put Juniata back in front by 17.

The lead stayed in double digits before the home team made one final run. Juniata endured a three-minute scoring drought and Mike Hilton scored four points as Susquehanna inched back within six with 8:18 remaining. A free throw from McConnell halted the run then Brian Cannon (Fallston/Fallston, Md.) and Chris Jasiota (Oil City/Oil City) nailed back-to-back jumpers to extend the lead to 11. Susquehanna would get no closer than eight the rest of the way as the Eagles held on to earn the win.

Boyd finished with a team-high 16 points for the Eagles, while also grabbing five rebounds. Cannon added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while McConnell added 12.

Mills scored 18 points to lead Susquehanna, and finished just two points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career. He also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

Juniata will close its season on Saturday when the Eagles play at Lebanon Valley.

JUNIATA (70): Holloway 3 2-3 8, Cannon 6 2-2 14, Jasiota 2 0-0 4, McConnell 5 1-2 12, Hager 1 0-0 3, Byer 2 1-2 5, Ferko 0 0-0 0, Opitz 0 2-2 2, LaPrad 0 0-0 0, Chamberlain 0 2-2 2, Price 0 0-0 0, Boyd 4 5-6 16, Littleton 0 0-0 0, Holencik 2 0-0 4, Bull 0 0-0 0. Total ? 25 15-19 70

SUSQUEHANNA (54): Malko 2 1-2 6, Mills 3 12-16 18, Effler 4 1-2 9, Lauer 1 0-0 3, Parry 2 1-2 6, Marshall 0 0-0 0, Okonak 0 0-0 0, Hilton 1 2-2 4, Williams 0 0-0 0, Laird 0 2-4 2, Prusch 1 1-2 3, Dombroski 1 0-3 3. Totals ? 15 20-32 54

Halftime: Juniata 29-18. 3-point goals: Juniata 5 (Boyd 3, McConnell, Hager); Susquehanna 4 (Malko, Lauer, Parry, Dombroski). Assists: Juniata 6 (Boyd 2); Susquehanna 8 (Mills, Parry 2). Rebounds: Juniata 41 (Cannon 8); Susquehanna 52 (Mills 11).

Records: Juniata (9-15); Susquehanna (3-20).

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