Juniata earns first win with rout over Hilbert
(Posted November 20, 2009)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. - For the first time since December 3, 2005, the Juniata College men's basketball team posted at least 100 points on an opponent. They defeated Hilbert College, 109-78, in the night cap of the first round of the Mutual Benefit Group Doc Greene Invitational held in the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center, on Friday evening.
The Eagles jumped out to a 24-14 lead with nine minutes remaining in the first half and the game was never in doubt from there. Juniata took a 54-29 lead into the locker room before finishing with 109 points for its first victory of the season.
Six players finished in double figures for Juniata (1-1). Freshman point guard Alex Raymond (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona) led all scorers with a game high 15 points. He also tacked on five assists and two rebounds. He only shot 3-6 from the field, but used an 8-8 night from the free-throw line to post a season and career high in points.
Sophomore Matt Regan (Downingtown, Pa./Devon Prep) recorded his first double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Four of his 10 rebounds were on the offensive glass.
Newcomer Mike Walker (Homer City, Pa./Homer Center) tallied 14 points on 5-9 shooting in his first collegiate start. He was 4-6 from behind the three-point arc. Senior Jeff Berkey (Stoystown, Pa./Shanksville-Stonycreek) tacked on 13 points of his own, shooting 3-4 from three-point territory.
Also posting double figures was sophomore center Austin Ankney (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) with 11 points, going 4-5 from the floor and sophomore guard Dan Sekulski (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone Area) finished with 12 points off the bench for the Eagles.
Juniata used a 16-3 run half way through the first half to push a six-point margin to 36-17 with 5:34 remaining in the half. They then used a quick 11-5 spurt with two minutes remaining to take a 25-point lead into the half.
The Juniata lead grew to as many as 31 in the second half and never got closer than 22 as the Eagles soared to the final buzzer.
Roman Brown led Hilbert (1-1) with 14 points and six rebounds off the bench. Nick Piccone shot 5-15 from the field, finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes.
The first game of the invitational saw Grove City College defeat Penn State-DuBois, 73-63, setting up the consolation and championship games on Saturday.
The first game on Saturday will feature Hilbert taking on Penn State-DuBois at 2 p.m. for third place. The Eagles will now face the Wolverines of Grove City for the championship. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.