Senior guard Tommy Morgan (Brooklawn, N.Y./Chaminade) shook off any rust after the short holiday break by scoring 19 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to lead The University of Scranton men's basketball team to a 77-64 victory over Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) College on Saturday night in the Long Center.

Morgan led four players in double figures in scoring as the Royals (4-1) rebounded from a road loss to ninth-ranked Cabrini on Tuesday night. Sophomore forward Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) had 16 points and eight rebounds, junior guard Ross Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy, N.J.) had 14 points and senior forward Jason Pierce (Scranton, Pa./Conestoga/Lackawanna College) added 12 points.

A pair of big runs at the start of each half by the Royals were the difference in the game. An 11-0 run in the first half turned an early 5-0 deficit into an 11-5 advantage and Scranton never trailed again, carrying a 32-22 lead into the break. Pierce had eight points and five rebounds, and Morgan had seven points and seven rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

The Royals also received five points apiece off the bench from senior guard Mike Marchman (Blauvelt, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) and junior guard Justin Klingman (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights).

The start of the second half was much of the same as Scranton scored the first seven points and outscored the Knights (3-3) 23-9 over the first 6:55 of the half to take a 55-31 lead. Danzig scored seven points and Morgan had six in the run. Boken had 14 points and Danzig finished with 12 points in the second half.

The Royals shot 41.9 percent (26-for-62) from the field, including a sizzling 22-for-42 (52.4 percent) inside the 3-point line. The Royals also hit 21 of 28 (75 percent) from the free throw line and turned the ball over just six times.

Morgan added six assists and three steals, both team-highs for the Royals. Danzig had six rebounds, four assists and a team-high four blocks, and Pierce added seven rebounds as the board battle was an even draw at 41 rebounds for each team.

Mount Saint Mary received 18 points and 16 rebounds from senior forward Joe Henain (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) and 16 points from senior guard Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin Senior). The Knights shot 40.6 percent (26-for-64), including 4-for-21 (19 percent) from 3-point range, and made eight of 14 (57.1 percent) from the free throw line.

The Royals now have a week to prepare for the Landmark Conference opener on Saturday, Dec. 7, when they travel to Selinsgrove, Pa. to take on Susquehanna at 2 p.m.

--ROYALS--