HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The University of Scranton men's basketball team struggled from the field for most of the afternoon and it cost the Royals, as a late rally in the closing minutes fell just short in a 54-52 loss in the team's Landmark Conference opener against Juniata in Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
Scranton (5-2, 0-1 Landmark) fell behind by seven at halftime and spent the majority of the second half trying to come back. The deficit was still seven, 52-45, with 2:41 to go, when the Royals made their rally. A 3-pointer by senior forward Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) cut the deficit to 53-52 with 23 seconds left. Juniata made one of two at the line and the Royals then drew a foul with less than a second remaining. But the first free throw was no good, and when the second was missed intentionally, Scranton could not tip in the rebound to force overtime.
Boken led Scranton with 19 points and 10 rebounds, which included 17 second-half points. He also had two assists and a steal while going 7-for-14 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line.
Junior forward John Vitkus (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) added 15 points and five rebounds, a steal and a block.
Scranton finished the afternoon 19-for-46 (41.3 percent) from the field, including 7-for-20 in the first half. The Royals were 3-for-15 (20 percent) from 3-point range and made 11 of 16 (68.8 percent) from the free throw line.
Sophomore guard Kevin Doolan (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) had seven points and four of the team's 12 assists. Scranton turned the ball over 13 times, the team's lowest total in the past five games, but nine first-half turnovers contributed to the halftime deficit.
Juniata (7-0, 2-0 Landmark) won the rebounding battle, 33-25, and shot 45.7 percent (21-for-46) from the field. The Eagles turned the ball over 16 times and went 9-for-16 from the free throw line.
Scranton is back in action on Sunday, Nov. 13, when the Royals host Merchant Marine Academy in a Landmark Conference game at 2 p.m. in the Long Center.
--ROYALS--