Men's Basketball Drops USMMA, 83-69

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KING'S POINT, N.Y. – The Moravian College men's basketball team defeated The United States Merchant Marine Academy, 83-69, Wednesday evening in Landmark Conference action. Sophomore guard Izel Dickerson led the Greyhounds with a career-high 26 points to go with his three steals, three assists and three rebounds.

Dickerson started the scoring for the Greyhounds (13-9, 5-6 Landmark) with a layup. Junior center Cameron Cullen added a lay-in, and Dickerson followed with a three from the corner for the 7-0 lead three minutes in. Junior forward Nick Sergio tallied the first score for the Mariners (11-11, 4-7 Landmark) with a layup.

Cullen added another bucket while senior guard D.J. Strayhorn followed with a three for the 12-2 lead five minutes into the game. Back-to-back three's by Dickerson put Moravian up 18-2 six minutes in. Sergio ended the Greyhounds run with a lay-in. Freshman forward Scott Dennin hit two three's to put the score at 18-10 seven minutes into the game.

A free throw by Strayhorn ended USMMA's 14-0 run to put the Greyhounds up 19-16 with seven minutes remaining in the half. After trading scores, Cullen went on a 6-0 run to put Moravian up 27-18 with three minutes to play in the half. Sergio added lay-in to end the Hounds run. Cullen then ended the half with a layup to give Moravian a 34-24 halftime advantage.

The Greyhounds shot 37-percent from the field while the Mariners shot 34-percent from the field. USMMA held the edge in rebounds at 29-14 while the Greyhounds committed 12 less turnovers. Cullen leads all scoring at the half with 14 points while Sergio has seven points and six rebounds for the Mariners.

Junior forward Reed Buck started the second half with a score for USMMA. A few minutes later, freshman forward Matt Bosch hit a lay-in to put Moravian up 37-33. Scores by junior center Blake English and Strayhorn put Moravian up 43-35 six minutes.

Buck answered for the Mariners with a three-pointer. Bosch responded with a layup while getting fouled. He converted the three-point play. Dickerson added a three form the wing to put Moravian up 49-39 seven minutes into the second half.

Dickerson added another three, and English put home a layup for the 54-39 lead with 11:44 to play. After a steal by Strayhorn, he passed it to English who slammed it home. With 10:32 to play, Strayhorn added a three for the 59-39 lead.

After trading scores, a three by Dickerson put Moravian up 71-46 with eight minutes to play. A layup by Strayhorn put the Greyhounds up 75-51 with 6:40 left in the contest. Sophomore forward Garrett Kashmer hit a three-pointer for the 79-53 lead. Moravian maintained its lead down the stretch to win 83-69.

Strayhorn finished with 20 points, seven assists and three steals while Cullen added 14 points and seven rebounds. Bosch added seven points and three boards while senior guard Garrett Johnson had seven points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Sergio led the Mariners with 12 points and eight rebounds while Dennin recorded a double-double off of ten points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard David Smith added nine points and four rebounds while Buck had nine points and three boards.

Moravian shot 42-percent from the field while USMMA shot 43-percent from the field. The Mariners held the edge in rebounds at 47-32 while the Greyhounds committed 12 less turnovers.

Moravian returns to the court on Saturday, February 9th as they host Landmark Conference foe Susquehanna University. It's senior day for the Greyhounds as the contest is set for 4 p.m.