SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior Jackson Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights) scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting and The University of Scranton men's basketball team (1-0) shot 56.3% from the floor en route to a 93-75 win over the Centenary (N.J.) University Cyclones (0-1) in the season opener for both teams on Friday night as part of the annual Hilton Scranton Invitational.

The Royals advance to play No. 8 Swarthmore in the championship game on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. as the Garnet defeated Misericordia by a score of 94-69 in Friday's second game.

The 24 points are the second-highest of Danzig's career following a 25-point effort in an 85-79 win over King's on Jan. 4, 2020.

Scranton came storming out of the gate in this one and a layup from junior Ryan Ems (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) made it a 14-5 game with 15:47 to go in the first half. Centenary briefly rallied to cut the lead to six at 18-12, but the Royals responded with a 17-4 run of their own and a jumper from Danzig stretched the lead to 35-16 at the 6:55 mark. In the opening stanza, the Royals shot a blistering 62.5% (20-of-32) from the floor and took a 48-28 lead into the locker room.

A three-point play from Ems made it a 57-37 game with 17:15 to play, but the Cyclones would not go quietly and whittled the lead down to nine at 67-58 with 9:29 left after a quick 7-0 spurt. Following a Centenary timeout, Scranton quickly got the lead back into double digits and a 13-6 run capped by two free throws from Danzig extended the lead to 80-64 with 5:47 to play. Centenary was unable to get any closer than 14 the rest of the way as the Royals preserved the season-opening win.

Joining Danzig in double figures for the Royals were Ems and fellow junior Stephen Braunstein (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) who added 17 points apiece. Off the bench, freshmen Will McLoughlin (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) and Mason Thompson (Prairie Village, Kan./Rockhurst) added eight points each, while the former also snagged five rebounds.

Senior Jack Brockett (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) chipped in for the hosts with six points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Cyclones led by 17 from Billy Veras and 15 from D'Angelo Blackmond.

Centenary held a 37-31 edge in the rebounding battle as the Royals were led by eight boards from Ems and six from Danzig.

Tomorrow's game continues a stretch for the Royals where the team will play four of their five games inside the friendly confines of the John Long Center.

--ROYALS--