Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Things got a little close at the end, but the Susquehanna men's basketball team hung on for a 60-58 win over Misericordia, marking SU's first win of the season while handing the Cougars just their second loss of the year.

The Crusaders (1-4) at one point held an 11-point edge and while they won by just two points, it was the outcome that mattered as they picked up their first win of the year in what was also their first home game since mid November.

Three players reached double figures, led by Spenser Spencer's (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside) 19, and the team shot at a 40 percent clip from the floor, including draining half of its three-point shots (8-for-16).

J.T. Wilson (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional) added 10 points and freshman Matt McGugan (Silver Spring, Md./Blake) chipped in 11 to complement his six rebounds.

SU was dominant on the boards, pulling down 40 rebounds, 16 of the offensive variety, to the Cougars' 27 overall boards. Wilson and Harley Sellinger (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain) led the way with seven rebounds apiece with Wilson also adding two blocks.

Susquehanna was firing on all cylinders early, taking a 9-2 lead with points from three different players, including a trey from Spencer.

The Cougars (6-2) got within one, 11-10, with 15:17 on the clock, but SU regained a 19-13 lead with 13 minutes to play in the half.

A three-pointer from McGugan handed Susquehanna its first double-digit lead of the game (31-21) with 3:18 on the clock and SU went into halftime up 31-23.

Misericordia got back within two (33-31) after 5:30 of play in the second period before the Crusaders went up by a game-high 11 (52-41) on a three-point play by McGugan with 7:48 remaining.

SU was unable to extend its lead any farther, however, and the Cougars slowly chipped away at the score. They got within two points twice in the final minutes, including as late as 2:13 to play, and tied the game at 56 on a Matt Greene layup with 1:36 on the clock.

Spencer countered with another three-pointer which provided enough insurance for SU to hang on for the win.

Susquehanna remains at home to host Elizabethtown on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.