(Posted December 6, 2006)

WAYNESBURG, Pa. - The Juniata College men\'s basketball team played a strong three quarters of a game in its road contest against Waynesburg College, but the home team owned the final seven minutes as the Eagles dropped a 69-66 decision in non-conference action Wednesday night. Juniata fell to 4-3 with the loss while the home team improved to 3-2. Juniata had three players reach double figures, led by Brian Cannon\'s 20 points but could not hold on to lead at the end of the second half. A see-saw contest for most of the second half, Juniata claimed control as Chris Jasiota (Oil City/Oil City) scored six points as part of a 10-2 run that left the Eagles leading 62-53 with seven minutes remaining. But over the final seven minutes, Waynesburg seized control outscoring the Eagles 16-4 over the final seven minutes. Waynesburg claimed the lead with 2:29 remaining on a Mark Lodovico lay-up. Juniata quickly answered as Jasiota put home another basked to give him 18 points and put Juniata in front 66-65 with 2:03 remaining. Waynesburg countered by scoring the final four points of the game and Juniata was unable to convert as Tim Drakely sank a pair of free throws with one second remaining to seal the win. The Eagles also were unable to hang on to a lead in the first half as the visitors scored the first five points of the game, and led by as many as 10 points in the first half before a 13-2 Waynesburg run over the last four minutes of the first half gave the home team a 32-31 lead at the break. Cannon reached 20 points for the second time this season, while Jasiota\'s 18 points were a season best. Nick Hager (Franklin/Franklin) also added 10 for Juniata including two three pointers, but Juniata shot just 3-14 from three-point range on the game. Brent Ferko (Freeport/Sarver) grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds to lead Juniata, while Kyle Opitz (Pine-Richland/Gibsonia) paced the team with five assists. Drakely paced Waynesburg with 16 points to also lead three figures in double figures. Jered Gamble added 12 points for the home team, while Lodovico chipped in with 10. Josh Parisi led the team with seven rebounds in the contest while Lodovico was tops with three assists. Juniata will play its final game of the first semester on Tuesday as the Eagles travel to played York College (Pa.) ###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.