BEL AIR, Md. (Interstat) — In a game defined by sloppy ball-handling and missed opportunities, the Harford Fighting Owls narrowly escaped with a 54-52 victory over the Richard Bland Eagles in a men’s junior college basketball season opener on Thursday night.

The contest, a back-and-forth affair that saw 37 combined turnovers, was ultimately decided in the final chaotic seconds. Harford’s Tre Powell sank a critical 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining to put the Fighting Owls up by two. Richard Bland had multiple chances to tie or take the lead in the closing moments but was plagued by the same turnover issues that hampered them all game, committing 22 in total.

Richard Bland’s final possession, following a timeout with 12 seconds left, resulted in a missed 3-point attempt by Doyle Brown as time expired, sealing the narrow win for the home team.

The game was a tale of two statistical strengths. Richard Bland dominated the glass, outrebounding Harford 31-20, led by a formidable double-double from Andy Ramirez, who finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. However, the Eagles squandered that advantage with their poor ball security and inefficient offense, scoring just 52 points on 65 possessions for an offensive rating of 80.0.

Harford, while only marginally better with 15 turnovers, was more efficient with its chances, posting an offensive rating of 84.0. The Fighting Owls also shot better from the field, converting 22 of 51 attempts compared to Richard Bland’s 17 of 41. Both teams struggled from the free-throw line, with Richard Bland making 13 of 21 and Harford hitting just 4 of 9.

Powell led all Harford scorers with 20 points, including five 3-pointers, several of which came at crucial moments to stifle Richard Bland momentum. Israel Bosenge provided a strong interior presence for the Fighting Owls, adding 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.

For Richard Bland, the scoring load was carried by its top two players. Brown matched Powell’s 20 points, while Ramirez’s 19-point, 13-rebound effort went for naught in the loss. The Eagles’ offense often stalled, with the team recording only 10 assists against its 22 turnovers.

The game was close throughout, with Harford taking a 26-25 lead after a fast-paced first quarter and extending it slightly to a 28-27 edge in the second period to account for the final two-point margin. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Harford with a 64 percent probability to win, a forecast that proved accurate by the slimmest of margins.

With the loss, Richard Bland begins its season 0-1. The Eagles will look to rebound on the road against Harcum on Saturday, Nov. 15. Harford, now 1-0, travels to face Harcum in its next contest on Wednesday, Nov. 12.