(Posted January 20, 2007)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Senior guard Aaron Chamberlain (Tussey Mountain/Wood) drilled a three pointer with four seconds remaining to propel the Juniata College men\'s basketball team to a 76-75 victory over visiting Albright College in Commonwealth Conference action in Huntingdon Saturday night. Juniata (9-8, 3-3 Commonwealth) trailed 75-73 with nine seconds remaining after Tom Murphy converted a free throw. The Eagles race into the frontcourt and Chamberlain took a hand-off from Nick Hager (Franklin/Franklin) and buried the shot to put Juniata in front by two. Chamberlain then sealed the win by picking off the Albright inbounds pass. Chamberlain finished the game with 16 points, while Juniata\'s Brian Cannon (Fallston/Fallston, Md.) scored a season-high 26 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds. Albright (6-10, 1-5 Commonwealth) led for nearly all of the second half as the Lions continually kept Juniata at before the final minute. After Juniata pulled in front 34-33 in the opening minutes of the second half, Albright answered with a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to build a 10-point lead. The Eagles rallied back, pulling within three on a triple from Kyle Opitz (Pine-Richland/Gibsonia) with 11:17 left in the game. Juniata would get within three points five more times in the half, and crept within two points five times, but each time Albright answered with a hoop. With under a minute to play Albright\'s Tom Murphy drilled a jumper to make it 74-70 Albright. Neil Holloway (Tussey Mountain/Saxton) countered with jumper with 31 seconds remaining to pull the Eagles back within two. The Lions then found trouble at the foul line as Murphy missed a pair of free throws, only to have Albright retain possession after the ball went out of bounds. Two more missed free throws from Greg Conroy kept the lead at two. Juniata\'s Chris Jasiota (Oil City/Oil City) was fouled on the rebound and made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to one with 15 seconds left. Murphy then connected on the second of his two free shots, to set up the dramatic finish. Murphy and Albert Medoro each scored 17 points for the Lions who shot 53 percent from the field in the second half, and 49 percent for the game. But the Lions were just 11-of-23 at the foul line. Juniata was also efficient in the second stanza, as the Eagles shot 57 percent from the field. Cannon was 11-of-16 from the field as he recorded his third-consecutive double-double. Opitz was also in double figures for Juniata with 11 points while he and Nick Hager paced the team with three assists. Medoro and Murphy both finished with a team-high five boards for the Lions. Kyle Brudvig and Conroy was also in double figures with 11 and points respectively. Matt Kieselowsky led all players with six assists. Juniata returns to action on Wednesday with a road conference game against Lebanon Valley. ###

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