ALTOONA, Pa. - The Juniata men's basketball team was within three points of the lead with three minutes left to play before falling 77-64 to Penn State Altoona on Tuesday evening.
The sides traded points in the opening minutes before the Lions pulled to a 13-6 lead through the first seven minutes. Michael Montecalvo responded with a three-pointer to get back within four, but Altoona responded with a layup and three free-throw attempts to again create breathing room. With the score at 20-11, Evan Eisenhart hit a three-point shot to draw within six. The Lions swiftly responded with a three-pointer of their own. Just 14 seconds later, Gabe Guidinger hit a three to get back within six.
Montecalvo hit his second three-pointer with four minutes left to tie the scoreline at 27 each for the first time since the second minute of play. As happened earlier in the half, the Lions hit a three of their own on their next break, and Kyle Ruggery would have the honor of tying the game back up with a three-pointer at 30-30.
The Lions made a layup and free throw to get a three-point lead, but their reign was yet again brief, with Eagles tying again at 35 on an Eisenhart three. Each team followed with a layup, but Altoona took a one-point lead on a free throw with thirty seconds left in the half. A breakaway started by a Ruggery defensive rebound would see Ross Conway score on a putback for a one-point lead at the half at 39-38.
Altoona opened the second half with a three-pointer and a layup to get an early four-point lead, but Tyler Lapetina and Ruggery hit three-pointers around a layup and free throw from Altoona to earn the lead at 46-45. Altoona gained the lead back on a layup and held a consistent lead in the middle stages of the second half. With seven minutes remaining and three points down, Chase Husted won a rebound, and Lapetina put a three-pointer in to yet again tie the game back up.
Hardy then drove for a layup on the next offensive play for a two-point lead. Altoona responded with two layups and a dunk for a 64-60 lead with six minutes on the clock.
Rigby hit a layup to get back within three points on two occasions between the sixteenth and seventeenth minutes, but that was the closest Juniata would get to the lead the rest of the way. Altoona posted ten unanswered points in the last three minutes for a final score of 77-64.
The Eagles were more efficient three-point shooters than Penn State Altoona, but the Lions were about 10% more accurate on field goals and from the free-throw line.
Guidinger had a team-high of 13 points with six field goals and a three-pointer. Husted managed five points and a team-best 12 rebounds (four offensive, eight defensive). Nick Rigby led the team in steals with five. Off the bench, Eisenhart accumulated nine points, the best of any player off the bench, with a team-high three three-pointers made.
The Eagles ended a five-game away run with a 2-3 record and victories over Penn College and Penn State Behrend. They now begin a run of eight straight home games from late November through early January, including the Juniata College Holiday Tournament, the Doc Greene Tournament, and two Landmark Conference matchups against Drew and Goucher.
The next game sees the Eagles open their homestand against the Chatham University Cougars at 2:00 pm this Saturday, November 26th. Juniata lost in the first meeting against the Cougars 64-59 in Pittsburgh last season.
