ITHACA, NY (November 29, 2022) -- Host Ithaca College shot 54.8 percent from the field, including making 43.5 percent from three-point land, defeating the Susquehanna University men's basketball team 84-67 in non-conference play from Ben Light Gymnasium. 

The contest was close early in the first half, as SU (3-3) trailed by just one at 12-11 following a lay-up by Howie Rankine, Jr.  with 15:29 remaining in the opening period. Ithaca went on an 8-2 run to take a nine-point edge at 23-14, and led by as many as 16 points late in the first half. The River Hawks finished the stanza on a small 9-4 run to make it an 11-point deficit at 48-37 going into the intermission. 

The River Hawks would come out of the halftime locker room quick, cutting the IC lead down to six at 49-43 following a lay-up from first-year Brandon Lavitt. The Bombers responded by pushing their edge back up to as much as 23 late in the second half in closing out the victory. 

Rankine was once again Susquehanna's go-to scorer on the evening, as the senior posted 19 points, five rebounds, three steals on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor. Lavitt tallied a career-high in both points and rebounds, pulling in eight caroms to go with his 17 points as he connected on 7-of-11 from the field. Senior Quincy Haughton tallied eight points and six rebounds, while sophomore Marcus Mitchell came off the bench to post seven points and two rebounds. 

Susquehanna shot 44.3 percent from the field on the evening, making 27-of-61 attempts while also making 10-of-14 from the line. 

The Bombers (3-2) got a game-high 24 points from Logan Wendell, and Luka Radovich tallied 20 points as well in the victory. Ithaca was an efficient 34-of-62 from the floor, adding 10 makes from behind the arc. 

SU returns to action on Saturday, opening Landmark Conference play against the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College in Selinsgrove at 4 p.m. in Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium.