(Posted February 4, 2011)

MADISON, N.J. -- Two 18-point efforts from both junior guard Dan Sekulski (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) and sophomore guard Alex Raymond (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona Area) were not enough to beat Drew University as they fell to the Rangers, 73-64, Friday night at Baldwin Gym.

The last time the two teams matched up was on January 22nd when the Eagles fell to the Rangers in overtime 72-70. The second time around the Eagles dropped again in the final moments.

Sekulski sunk a two-pointer, then a three-point basket right off the tip-off to combat Drew's Asmar Capers' trey just ten seconds in. However, Drew held Juniata at five points as it went on an eight-point run.

Juniata battled right back to hold Drew at 13 points as they went on a seven-point run, with three-pointers coming from Sekulski and Raymond. The two teams were tied 15-15 with 12:56 left in the first half, then 25-25 with 4:48 left, and they ended the half at a 31-31 tie.

The Eagles and the Rangers battled in round two; tying up the game again at 36-36 four minutes in to the second half. The Rangers began to hold a small lead yet a jumper by Sekulski caught the Eagles up to only trail by two (50-48) at the ten minute mark.

In the final moments, the Eagles only trailed by two or three points. Two free throws from Drew's Terrell Brown and a three from Mike Hays put the Rangers ahead, 67-60, with 1:21 left in the game. Nate Higgins (St. Mary's Pa./Elk County Catholic) managed to sink a three with an assist from Brian Scholly (State College, Pa./State College), yet two foul shots from Asmar Capers put the Rangers up 69-73. Capers finished two more foul shots and a layup to end the game with the Drew's largest of nine points.

Drew (12-9, 7-3 Landmark) outshot Juniata (10-11, 3-9 Landmark) with 47.4 percent from the floor compared to 39.6 percent, however the Eagles shot better from three-point range at 56.3 percent compared to 38.1 percent. Drew made 68.8 percent of its free throws while Juniata made 56.5 percent. The game was tight when it came to turnovers, with the Rangers committing 14 as the Eagles committed 16. Drew collected 20 points off of turnovers while Juniata turned the errors into eight points.

The two teams were matched a dead even 35-35 for rebounds.

Scholly collected eight rebounds, seven of them defensive, while Higgins collected eight as well. Drew's Mike Mayes had the game-high of 20 points, while Capers collected 19. Terrell Brown grabbed nine rebounds for the Rangers.

Juniata returns to action on Saturday afternoon, when the Eagles host the University of Scranton. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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