A furious late rally was not enough as Eastern University Men's Basketball fell 73-69 to the host Scranton Royals (8-2) in the Championship game of the PNC Bank Classic Invitational Tournament. Dan Miller and Collin Whipple led five Eastern players in double-figures with 16 points apiece. The Eagles trailed 60-46 with eight minutes to play and went on an 18-5 run to cut the deficit to one with 2:03 to play. Scranton made eight of ten foul shots in the final two minutes to secure the win.
The Eagles scored the first two baskets of the game on long-range shots to snare a six point edge, but that lead would not last as the Royals tied the game at 10-10 eight minutes into the game. Scranton held the Eagles to 28% shooting for the first period and built a 38-29 halftime lead. Mike Donatoni led all scorers at intermission with nine points, and Whipple scored a pair of second chance baskets late in the quarter to keep the Eagles inside double-figures.
The Eagles struggled to carve into the deficit for the first ten minutes of the second half, and a 7-2 run from the Royals left Eastern behind by 14 with eight to play.
Miller keyed the run with eight points. Alex Nelson (11 points) hit a three pointer early in the run, but he picked up his fifth foul with five minutes to play. With their leading scorer out, the Eagles continued the comeback. Donatoni hit a deep three pointer in transition to cut the deficit to three, and Whipple powered home an inside basket to pull to within one at 65-64.
Donatoni finished with 12 points and Martin Soaries added 10 off the bench. Led by Miller's nine rebound effort, the Eagles held a slight 34-32 edge on the glass. The Eagles converted 16-18 from the foul line, but the hosts made 25-34 from the stripe to own that category.
