BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sophomore guard Chris McCullough (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) has been a role player for The University of Scranton men's basketball team, coming off the bench at times to provide energy and strong defense. On Wednesday night at Moravian, he took on a new role – hero.

McCullough hit the game-winning layup as time expired to give the Royals a 69-68 victory over the Greyhounds, snapping a two-game winning streak and giving them yet another dramatic victory this season. Scranton (12-5, 5-4) remains in fifth place in the Landmark Conference, a half-game behind Catholic (12-5, 5-3) for fourth place.

Scranton trailed by one with the ball and called timeout with nine seconds to play. After the inbounds pass, they looked to get the ball inside, but couldn't find an opening. The ball swung around to McCullough on the left wing, and he found an open driving line and went straight to the basket, putting up the layup just before the horn and tumbling through the floor as the ball took its own tumble through the basket, setting of a wild celebration for the Royals.

The Royals led by eight at halftime, 38-30, after going 12-for-28 (42.9 percent) from the field and 12-for-15 (80 percent) from the free throw line. But Moravian (7-9, 2-6) opened the second half with an 11-2 run to take a 41-40 lead, which the Greyhounds later stretched to 11 on two occasions, the last coming at 61-50 with 8:08 left.

But as they've done in come-from-behind wins at Drew and Goucher earlier this season, the Royals fought back, tying the game at 65 with 1:53 left on a jumper by senior guard Marcus Thomas (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg).

The Greyhounds responded with a 3-pointers for a 68-65, and senior forward Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) scored inside to pull Scranton within one with 48 seconds left. Moravian then missed the front end of a one-and-one situation, and the Royals called timeout with the ball and nine seconds left, setting up the eventual game-winning play.

Boken led the Royals with 22 points and five rebounds. McCullough had 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in a career-high 25 minutes off the bench. Sophomore guard Kevin Doolan (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) added 11 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists.

Scranton finished the night 25-for-56 (44.6 percent) from the field, including 3-for-11 (27.3 percent) from 3-point range. The Royals made 16 of 20 free throws (80 percent), led by McCullough, who was a perfect 6-for-6. They committed just 11 turnovers while forcing 18, and held a 38-16 edge in points in the paint.

Moravian was 21-for-53 (39.6 percent) from the field, including 11-for-28 (39.3 percent) from 3-point range. The Greyhounds were 15-for-22 (68.2 percent) from the free throw line and won the rebounding battle, 36-30.

Scranton has the conference bye this weekend and will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 27, when the Royals host Drew in a key Landmark Conference game at 7 p.m. in the Long Center.

--ROYALS--