MADISON, N.J. – Junior guard Cole Hanntz drove in for a go-ahead lay-up with 14 seconds left before sophomore forward Malachi Walker blocked a potential game-tying shot with 3.7 ticks showing as the Drew University men's basketball team rallied once again to beat defending Landmark Conference champion Moravian College 79-75 at a packed Baldwin Gym Wednesday evening. The conference-leading Rangers (13-3, 5-0 LC) won their fifth game in a row while avenging a loss to the Greyhounds (10-6, 3-2 LC) in last year's Landmark semifinals.
 
How it Happened: There were three ties and seven lead changes in a nip-and-tuck first half, and Moravian led 79-75 at the break. Drew trailed by nine (55-46) with 12:45 left and by six (61-55) with 8:34 remaining before rallying with a 12-0 run, sparked by consecutive 3-pointers from Hanntz and junior guard Riley Collins. The Rangers nudged their lead to eight (71-63) with 4:46 to go, only to see Moravian rally with 10-2 run to pull even with 1:53 left. It was a 75-75 game after C.J. Barnes hit a short baseline jumper with 44 seconds to go before Hanntz drove across the lane and flipped in what turned out to be the game-winning shot. After the Greyhounds called timeout, Will Brazukas appeared to have an opening down the right side of the lane, but his floater was swatted emphatically by Walker, who corralled the rebound as the crowd erupted. He handed the ball to Collins, who would ice the game with a pair of free throws.
 
Top Performers: Five different Rangers scored in double figures, led by Collins, who netted 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Hanntz finished with 14 points, as did senior forward Nate Aldrich. Senior guard Darius Reiter and senior forward Sky Harris contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Walker blocked four shots. Oneil Holder (21 points) and Jimmy Murray (20 poitns) paced the Greyhounds.
 
Stat Sheet: Drew shot better than 50 percent from the field for the third game in a row, finishing at 53.6 percent, and out-rebounded Moravian 35-24. The Rangers outscored the Greyhounds 42-28 in the paint and 15-6 on the fast break. Moravian shot 17-for-20 at the foul line.
 
Notes: The Blue and Green are 13-3 for the first time since 1979-80 and are 5-0 in conference play for the second year in a row…the Rangers have now rallied from at least at least an eight-point deficit in three of their last four games since resuming Landmark Conference play on Jan. 5.
 
Up Next: The Rangers travel to Elizabethtown College at Saturday for another Landmark Conference tilt starting at 4 p.m.