Susquehanna Falls at USMMA in Playoffs, 69-61

KINGS POINT, N.Y. -- Susquehanna University's senior guard Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) scored a team-high 19 points and added four rebounds, a team-high two assists and a game-high-tying two steals, but visiting Susquehanna lost, 69-61, to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the Landmark Conference men's basketball semifinals at James W. Liebertz Gymnasium on Feb. 24.

The No. 1-seeded USMMA (22-4 overall) will now play No. 2-seeded The University of Scranton (18-8 overall) in the Landmark championship game on Feb. 27. Scranton topped No. 3 The Catholic of University (18-8 overall), 75-70, in the other semifinal on Feb. 24. Susquehanna (15-11 overall) was the conference playoffs' fourth and final seed.

SU spotted the Mariners leads of 7-0 and 19-2 to start the game before going on a 19-9 run to close the first half down just 28-21.

The Crusaders carried that momentum into the second half long enough to take their first lead at 41-40 with 11 minutes, 52 seconds left in the game.

The score changed hands three times after that. The USMMA took its final lead at 51-48 on a three-pointer by sophomore forward Jon Snead (Garden City, N.Y./Holy Trinity) with 6:14 remaining.

The Crusaders would get no closer than a two-point deficit twice after that, and the Mariners made enough free throws down the stretch to put the game away.

For the game, the USMMA made 10 three-pointers (on 26 attempts) to just 4-for-18 for SU. The Mariners also held the rebounding advantage, 35-22.

The USMMA's junior guard/forward Tom Izzo (Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport) led all players with 20 points and added four rebounds. Teammate and junior forward Matt Hueber (Alexandria, Va./Gonzaga College HS) led all players with 13 boards and added six points, two assists and steals.

The Crusaders' junior guard Rob Estep (York, Pa./West York) grabbed a team-high five boards and added 15 points. Teammate and sophomore guard Spenser Spencer (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside) tied Majors and Hueber with two steals. Spencer also had four points and two rebounds.

The USMMA's senior guard Ryan Samuel (Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill) scored 14 points, pulled down three rebounds and handed out a game-high three assists. Snead was the other Mariner to score in double figures, dropping in 13 points on the strength of a game-high eight free throws (on 10 attempts). He also picked up three rebounds.

End of season

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