WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University men's basketball team saw their four-game win streak snapped Saturday afternoon as the River Hawks kicked off 2020 against in-state foe, Wilkes University. Sophomore guard Danny Frauenheim (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) poured in 20 points but Susquehanna (8-4) lost a heartbreaker, falling 86-84 to Wilkes (7-4) in non-conference action.
 
Susquehanna 84, Wilkes 86
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Junior guard Matt LaCorte (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) netted five of the team's first seven points as Susquehanna tipped off the game with a 7-0 run.
• A Jake Robel dunk pulled the Colonels within one at 16:20 but SU once again created separation with a 14-4 run to lead 21-10 less than five minutes later. LaCorte led the way once again with seven points in the run.
• Wilkes put together one final big run in the half as the Colonels answered back with a 12-4 run to pull within 25-22 at 8:32.
• The River Hawks would close out the first half by outscoring Wilkes, 15-10, to secure a 40-32 halftime advantage.

 
Halftime

• Both teams shot well from the floor as Susquehanna posted a 48.6-field goal percentage (18-of-37) compared to the Colonels' 44.8-percent (13-of-29).
• The River Hawks' defense kept Wilkes off-balance, forcing the hosts into 12 turnovers.
• LaCorte paced all scorers with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting while Rob Pecorelli tallied 11 and Mark Mullins added 10 to lead Wilkes.

 
Second Half

• The River Hawks staked a 10-point lead three times in the first four minutes of the half following a layup by junior guard Bryce Butler (Abingdon, Md./Suffield Academy) at 18:34, a fast-break basket by sophomore guard Lukas Yurasits (New York, N.Y./Berkeley Carroll) at 17:15, and an old-fashioned three-point play by senior forward Zachary Knecht (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) at 16:27 for a 52-42 advantage.
• Wilkes responded with a 15-5 run ignited by a two-point basket by Sean Coller at 16:23 and capped by a Bradley Anacreon triple at 12:22 to even up the game at 57-all.
• Susquehanna continued to stay ahead of the Colonels but by no more than five points, leading 73-68 on a Butler layup with 5:24 left in the game.
• The hosts claimed their first lead of the game, 77-75, on a Mullins jumper at 2:23. From there, Wilkes built a six-point advantage behind five points from Mullins for the team's biggest lead of the game.
• Frauenheim notched the River Hawks' next seven points to pull within 85-84 with 11 seconds left.
• Following a full timeout by each side, Jack Bova made one of two free throws with four ticks on the clock.
• SU called another full timeout then in-bounded the ball and took two seconds off the clock to get it across half-court before calling another timeout.
• The River Hawks were unable to get off a clean shot as time expired.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Wilkes finished shooting 49.2-percent from the floor, including 52.9-percent in the second half as the Colonels dropped 54 points over the final 20 minutes.
• The Colonels also controlled the boards, outrebounding the River Hawks, 40-34, as Robel and Pecorelli each hauled in a game-high nine rebounds.
• Susquehanna shot 49.3-percent for the game but was limited to a season-low nine assists.
• The Colonels now lead the all-time series, 43-32, following today's victory. Last season, Susquehanna posted an 88-64 triumph at Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium.

 
Top Performers

• Frauenheim led four starters in double-digit scoring with his second 20-point game of the season. He also added a team-best three assists.
• LaCorte finished with 16 points after going 0-for-2 in the second half while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
• Yurasits contributed 11 points, five boards, three steals, and two helpers while Knecht chipped in 10 points and hauled in seven caroms.
• Pecorelli fell one rebound shy of a double-double with game-highs of 25 points and nine boards while Mullins also tallied 25 points and notched five rebounds and three assists.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Jan. 11 vs. Goucher (2-9, 0-1 LC) – Selinsgrove, Pa. / O.W. Houts Gymnasium – Landmark Conference game – 2:00 p.m.

 
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