Saturday's performance by The University of Scranton men's basketball team on Senior Day in the Long Center was fitting in so many ways. The Royals celebrated four seniors before rolling to a 77-57 victory over Goucher, and their senior leader, forward Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) moved into third-place on the program's all-time scoring list, passing three former Scranton greats, including one who was in attendance.

Boken finished the afternoon with 30 points, his fifth game this season with 30 or more points, and had five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. He now has 1,810 career points, third-most in school history. He passed Zach Ashworth (1,786 points from 2007-2011), Jack Maher (1,789, 1972-76) and Ross Danzig (1,793, 2011-15). Maher, who was a member of the 1976 national championship team, was in attendance for the University's reunion of that championship team.

Boken trails only Irv Johnson, who scored 1,859 career points between 1975 and 1980, and was also in attendance Saturday, and Gene Mumford, the school's all-time leading scorer at 1,903 from 1968 to 1971.

The victory keeps Scranton (18-5, 11-4 Landmark) in the thick of the race for the top seed in the conference playoffs. The Royals have one conference game remaining and are currently in third place, just percentage points behind Catholic (17-5, 10-3) and Susquehanna (19-3, 10-3), each of which have three conference games remaining. The Royals close out the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 20, when they visit Catholic at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, the Royals also received 20 points and eight rebounds from junior forward John Vitkus (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac). He and Boken combined for Scranton's first 31 points of the game and 33 of their 36 in the first half.

Sophomore forward Drew Schankweiler (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) added eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.

With some of the most iconic players in Scranton history in attendance for the reunion, the Royals put on a show worth of comparison to the "Rockin' Royals" of 1976. Boken scored on an early thunderous dunk on a feed from Boken, who later thrilled a packed Long Center with a pass flipped behind his head to a streaking Vitkus for a layup. The two combined for another impressive play in the second half before freshman guard Jack Connelly (Ellington, Conn./Ellington) capped the afternoon with a flying, twisting reverse layup late in the second half.

The Royals finished the afternoon shooting 55.9 percent (33-for-59) from the field, many coming from close range. That led to an eye-popping 54-24 edge in points in the paint. They attempted just seven 3-pointers, making two, while committing just 11 turnovers and winning the rebounding battle, 36-28.

Goucher (9-14, 5-9) shot 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field, including 3-for-16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range. The Gophers committed 17 turnovers in the defeat.

Prior to tip-off, the Royals honored Boken and his fellow seniors – Patrick Calvey (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights), Brian Farrell (Verona, N.J./Verona) and Marcus Thomas (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg). Calvey finished the afternoon with two points, two rebounds and a steal, Farrell had four assists and two rebounds, and Thomas had five assists, three rebounds and a steal.

The Royals will travel to Radnor, Pa. on Monday for a non-conference matchup against Cabrini at 6:30 p.m.

--ROYALS--