(Posted January 22, 2011)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- For the second night in a row, Juniata College men's basketball had a game come down to the final minutes, this time against Landmark Conference opponent Drew University in a 72-70 loss on Saturday at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.

Juniata grabbed the first basket off the tip-off thanks to junior guard Dan Sekulski (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) yet Drew soon matched the two-point basket. The Eagles generally trailed by one or two points throughout most of the first half, other than when Drew grabbed their largest lead of the game by eight points with 12 minutes left.

The Eagles tied up the game with just over six minutes left in the first half when Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W. Va./John Marshall) sunk a three to knot the game at 22-22. Alex Raymond (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) later grabbed Juniata's first lead since the tip-off, 30-29, with a three-pointer. Sekulski wrapped up the half with back-to-back baskets over the final two minutes, sending Juniata into the locker room at the intermission with a 34-32 lead.

Juniata did start to pull away by seven with just under 12 left in the second half. The Eagles couldn't hold their lead and the Rangers tied it up, 63-63, with 47 seconds left. The Rangers' Asmar Capers sunk a foul shot to make it 64-63 for Drew, and then Lucas Mellott (Wardfordsburg, Pa./Southern Fulton) made a free throw to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Drew's Asmar Capers fouled out, yet Juniata had difficulty finishing it's free throw opportunities. Things were looking up when Raymond drained a three with 45 seconds left to pull the Eagles to within two points at 71-69, then he made 1-of-2 on the line to get to 71-70. However, Terrell Brown's single good free throw with three seconds left put Drew up by two in the end.

Drew posted better numbers on the boards overall. The Rangers outshot the Eagles 48.9 percent to 34.9 percent from the floor, 42.1 percent to 25.0 percent from behind the arc, and made 80.0 percent of their free throws compared to 61.1 percent by the Eagles. Drew held a 41 to 37 advantage on the boards, yet Juniata dominated the Rangers on the offensive glass. The Eagles hauled in 14 offensive rebounds leading to 15 Juniata points, while Drew managed just three offensive boards on the night.

Raymond and Sekulski each had 18 points while Hays totaled 14 points. Senior Bruce Knowles (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) had eight rebounds. Brown totaled 14 points for Drew and grabbed the team-high for rebounds with 11. Capers had the game-high of 29 points on 10-for-11 from the free throw line.

The score was tied 13 times and the lead changed 13 times.

Juniata will travel to Goucher College next Friday, Jan. 28, for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. The Eagles will then play at Catholic University on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 4:00 p.m.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.