BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sophomore forward Matthew Mancuso (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) poured in a career-high 30 points as The University of Scranton men's basketball team won for the sixth straight game, defeating Moravian, 75-63, in Johnston Hall.
Scranton (8-8, 4-1 Landmark) also received 21 points and 10 rebounds from senior forward Drew Schankweiler (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), who tallied his second straight double-double and sixth of the season. Senior guard Ethan Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights) added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The key stretch of the game spanned halftime as the Royals scored the final six points before the break, then put up nine straight in the opening 5:23 of the second half for what was ultimately a 15-0 run. Schankweiler scored three seconds before the half, then senior guard Mitch Cross (Marriottsville, Md./Loyola-Blakefield) stole the inbounds pass and fed Schankweiler for a layup at the buzzer that sparked the decisive run.
The Royals shot 56 percent (28-for-50) from the field, their second-best percentage of the season. They hit 3 of 8 from 3-point range and made 16 of 21 (76.2 percent) from the free throw line. Mancuso was 9-for-10 at the charity stripe to lead the effort.
Scranton also held a 34-24 edge in rebounding and enjoyed a dominant 46-24 edge in points in the paint. Senior guard Kevin Doolan (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) also had a solid game with eight points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal without committing a turnover. Mancuso also had seven rebounds and three steals to go along with his 30-point performance.
After going 2-8 to start the season, Scranton has reeled off six straight victories, four of them in Landmark Conference play. The Royals have shot at least 54.5 percent from the floor in each of the past three victories, and they are averaging 79.7 points per game in the six-game winning streak after averaging 66.2 over the first 10 games of the season.
Moravian (11-5, 3-2 Landmark) received 17 points from Jimmy Murray, 16 from Oneil Holder and 12 from C.J. Barnes. The Greyhounds shot 40.7 percent (24-for-59) from the floor, including 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) from beyond the arc. They also made all nine of their free throw attempts and committed 12 turnovers while forcing 16 by the Royals.
The win puts Scranton alone in second place in the Landmark Conference, one game behind Drew (12-4, 5-0 Landmark). The Royals return to action on Saturday, Jan. 20, when they visit Washington, D.C. to take on Catholic at 2 p.m.
--ROYALS--