Young's Triple Gives Greyhounds Tourney Title

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Freshman guard Maurice Young drilled a three-pointer with just three seconds remaining to lift the Greyhounds to a 67-65 victory in the championship game of the 30th Annual Greyhound Starters Classic in Johnston Hall.

The win was Moravian's ninth straight, equaling the longest streak for the program since a nine-game winning streak during the 1975-76 season. It was also the Greyhounds' 13th tournament title in the 30-year history of the tournament. Moravian has a 39-21 record in Greyhound Starters Classic tournament games.

Richard Stockton scored quickly to open the game and would have an 8-2 lead at the 16:36 mark on a jumper by senior forward Jon Greene. The Greyhounds took their first lead of the game with 10:52 remaining in the first half, 13-11, on a three-pointer by senior guard Chris Bays. The contest went back-and-forth for the remainder of the first half with six lead changes and four ties. Moravian headed to the locker room with a 27-24 lead after a jumper by senior forward Mark Franzyshen with 1:02 before the intermission.

The Greyhounds connected on nine of 23 field goal attempts (39.1 percent) in the first half, four of 11 three-pointers and five of seven free throws, and Moravian had a 16-13 advantage in rebounds despite committing 12 turnovers. The Ospreys were 11 of 26 from the field and two of six behind the three-point line in the first 20 minutes, and Richard Stockton didn't attempt a free throw in the first half.

The Greyhounds held the lead for the first eight minutes of the second half with the largest lead of five points, 41-36, at the 14:25 after Franzyshen hit a pair of free throws for a technical foul on the Richard Stockton bench. The Ospreys would regain the lead with 11:55 remaining in the second half on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Santini Lancioni for a 45-44 Richard Stockton advantage. After a pair of lead changes, senior guard Ryan Miller gave the lead back to the Greyhounds, 49-47, with a three-pointer at the 10:45 mark. Miller was fouled on the shot and completed the four-point play for a 50-47 advantage.

The Ospreys would eventually tie the game again with 8:04 remaining on a free throw by sophomore guard Omar Smith, and Richard Stockton would get the lead back with 5:47 to play on a Greene free throw, 55-54. The teams would go back-and-forth again with two ties and seven lead changes including the final one on Young's three-pointer to close out the game.

The Greyhounds shot the ball very well in the second half, making 15 of 25 field goal attempts (60 percent), six of ten three-pointers and four of five free throws while committing just six turnovers in final 20 minutes. The Ospreys were of 13 of 28 from the floor, three of seven behind the three-point line and 12 of 16 at the foul line in the second half, and Richard Stockton finished the game with a 29-28 edge in rebounds.

Moravian had a balanced scoring attack again with Franzyshen netting 19 points for the second straight game to be named the tournament' Most Valuable Player. Franzyshen also had six rebounds and two assists. Senior forward Eric Whitman and Miller each tossed in 12 points with Whitman adding four rebounds and three steals, and Miller contributing four assists and a trio of three-pointers. Young, who is now 11 of 19 behind the three-point line this season, had eight points including his winning shot while senior forward Chris Earley had a game high eight rebounds with seven points and four assists to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Bays, sophomore forward Eric Weaver and freshman forward Chris Cullen each had three points for the Greyhounds with Weaver grabbing four boards.

Greene led the Ospreys with a game high 21 points, and he added six rebounds and a pair of assists while being named to the All-Tournament Team. Senior guard Mario Lancioni was also named to the All-Tournament squad with 12 points while Smith had ten points and eight boards. Junior forward Jerome Hubbard contributed six points, six rebounds and three assists for Richard Stockton while Santini Lancioni had six points.

Also named to the All-Tournament Team were junior guard Kyle Enoch of Lebanon Valley College and senior guard Derahn Patrick of Neumann College as Lebanon Valley defeated Neumann, 70-65, in the consolation game.