BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sophomore guard D.J. Strayhorn (Swiftwater, Pa.) poured in 18 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to pace four double-figure scorers as the Moravian College men's basketball team defeated Wentworth, 81-65, in an opening round game of the 33rd Annual Starters Greyhound Classic.
The visiting Leopards scored the first three points of the game on a junior guard Eric Prue (Auburn, Maine) trifecta 1:34 into the contest. However, the Greyhounds went on an 8-1 run – with sophomore forward Blake English (Sussex, N.J.) scoring all eight points – to take an 8-4 lead with 14:45 left in the half. Junior forward Matt Harte (Troy, N.Y.) and junior guard Adam Dombrowski (Dunstable, Mass.) connected on back-to-back baskets to knot the score at 8-all.
Sophomore guard Garrett Johnson (Allentown, Pa.) gave Moravian a 10-8 lead before Wentworth tied the score with a freshman forward Davon Daniels (Paterson, N.J.) layup. On the ensuing possession, freshman guard Kenny Gula (Quakertown, Pa.) drained a three to give the hosts a 13-10 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
Moravian upped its lead to as much as seven with 9:44 left before the Leopards would whittle the lead down to as few as three, three minutes later. However, the Greyhounds, who would lead by as much as 11 late in the half, took a nine-point (40-31) lead at the half. Over the first 20 minutes, Moravian shot nearly 52 percent and scored 14 points off of eight Wentworth turnovers.
Strayhorn converted a three-point play to open the second half and give the Greyhounds a double-digit lead at 43-31. Wentworth cut the lead to as few as eight on three occasions and found itself trailing by 11 with just over 10 minutes left after a Harte basket. However, the hosts scored eight of the next nine points to take a 64-46 lead on a pair of English free throws with 8:26 remaining.
Wentworth scored the next six points – including four straight by senior forward Sam Herrick – to cut the lead to 12, but a Strayhorn three-point play and basket after Herrick had countered with a basket of his own, upped the lead to 15 with 4:39 remaining
In addition to scoring 26 points, Strayhorn dished out six assists and had five steals. Senior forward Chris Cullen (East Islip, N.Y.) added 16 points and hauled down eight rebounds for Moravian, while English and Gula each added 13 points. For the game, the Greyhounds shot 50.9 percent from the floor, including going 9-for-17 from behind the three-point arc.
Herrick had 11 points and nine rebounds to pace the Leopards, who saw their two-game win streak come to an end. Sophomore forward Corey Therriault (Auburn, Maine) added 10 points, while Daniels and Harte each added nine points in the loss. Wentworth held a 36-31 rebounding advantage.
With the win Moravian, winners of two straight, improves to 4-5 on the season. The Greyhounds will face Manhattanville, a 58-55 winner over Muhlenberg in the nightcap. Wentworth falls to 3-6 and plays Muhlenberg in the third place game.
