Senior forward Luke Hawk (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) and junior guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) combined to score 42 points to lead The University of Scranton past Moravian, 82-70, in a Landmark Conference men's basketball semifinal in the Long Center on Wednesday evening.
The Royals will defend their the Landmark Conference championship when they host Juniata on Saturday, Feb. 25, at a time to be determined. The Eagles defeated Susquehanna, 77-58, in the other semifinal.
Scranton has now reached the Landmark Conference championship game in each of the conference's five years of existence. They won the title in 2011, 2009 and 2008.
Hawk scored 22 points and Farrell had 20 points and seven rebounds as the Royals (19-7) placed four players in double figures in scoring. Freshman guard Ross Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy, N.J.) added 15 points and three steals and sophomore guard Tommy Morgan (Greenlawn, N.Y./Chaminade) had 10 points in the win.
Hawk is now 27th on Scranton's all-time scoring list with 1,110 career points.
Scranton shot 48.1 percent (25-for-52) from the field, including 11 of 21 in the second half as they made a 44-36 lead at the break hold up.
The Royals jumped out to a 25-13 lead just 9:04 into the game as junior guard Tim Lavelle (Clarks Green, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) canned a pair of 3-pointers in a span of 1:24. The Greyhounds cut Scranton's lead to six with 55 seconds left in the first half, but never got closer than seven the rest of the way.
Scranton also had a big advantage at the free throw line, making 26 of 36 from the line. Moravian made 13 of its 16 attempts from the free throw line.
Junior forward Edmond O'Connell (Somers, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) had a solid floor game off the bench, pulling down seven rebounds, handing out four assists and making a pair of steals in the win.
Moravian (12-14) was led by 23 points and 10 rebounds from senior forward Jeff Cullinan (Bridgewater, N.J./Immaculata). Junior guard D.J. Strayhorn (Swiftwater, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) added 20 pints, six assists and three steals.
--ROYALS--