MADISON, N.J. – Moravian University pulled away in the game's closing minutes and handed the Drew University men's basketball team an 87-81 setback in Landmark Conference action Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gym.
 
The Greyhounds took the lead for good with 5:21 left and led by as much as eight, but the Rangers refused to go away and cut the deficit to two with 59 seconds left. But Moravian answered with a 3-pointer with 34 ticks showing, then made 3-of-4 free throws in the final eight seconds.
 
Senior forward Michael Kane led a balanced offensive attack for the Rangers (11-9, 3-6 LC), scoring 16 points, while classmate Mario Haklaj added 14 points and three steals off the bench. Senior forward Howard McBurnie, Jr. totaled 13 points, nine rebounds, and three steals while sophomore guard Papie Roberts contributed 12 points and four assists. Junior guard Andrew Turco chipped in with career-highs of six assists and five steals.
 
Alex Dietz led Moravian (7-13, 4-5 LC) with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals while Marquis Ratcliff added 19 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Drew was red-hot in the early going, racing out to a 40-25 lead with 3:44 left in the first half. But Moravian answered with a quick 9-0 run to get to within six and the Rangers led 44-36 at the half.
 
The Rangers nudged their advantage to 11 (48-37) on a 3-pointer from freshman forward Kevin Cronin with 18:33 left. But the Greyhounds came right back with a 10-0 run to inch within one, setting up a tight finish the rest of the way.
 
A lay-up from McBurnie and a 3-pointer from Kane put Drew up 61-55 with 12:55 remaining but Moravian used a 7-1 run to pull even with 10:51 showing. The Rangers went back up by five (69-64) on a conventional 3-point play from Haklaj with 8:24 left before the Greyhounds answered with another 7-1 spurt to take a lead it would not relinquish.
 
After Moravian went up by eight with 3:27 to go, Turco came up big for the Rangers. He nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, then caused a turnover and fed an outlet pass to Roberts, who dropped in a lay-up to make it a three-point game (78-75) with 2:07 left.
 
The two sides then traded buckets, with Roberts taking it coast-to-coast for a lay-in for Drew to make it 80-77 with 1:44 left. After Moravian committed a turnover, the Rangers had a chance to tie it but a wide-open 3-point attempt from the right corner from Roberts just rattled out.
 
The Rangers then fouled Nate Santiago, who went 1-for-2 at the line with 1:13 left. Kane then drove the lane for an acrobatic, left-handed lay-up to make it 81-79 with 59 seconds to go. But Moravian, coming out of a timeout, sunk a big 3-pointer, with Michael Leonardo connecting from the right wing.
 
The two sides exchanged a missed basket and another turnover before McBurnie came up with a steal and a layup in the backcourt to again pull his team to within three (84-81). However, Leonardo went 1-for-2 at the foul line before Drew committed a turnover with four seconds left. Porter Kelly set the final score with two foul shots for Moravian.
 
Drew continues its season on Saturday, when it visits Susquehanna University at 4 p.m. in another Landmark Conference affair.