NEWPORT NEWS, VA -  The Susquehanna Men's Basketball team defeated the Rowan University Profs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, using an early 21-0 run to jump out to a big lead. The River Hawks won by a final of 94-84, as Lukas Yurasits scored a season high 29 points. 

Susquehanna received scoring from all over the place on Friday night, as five River Hawks were in double-figures. Yurasits led the way for SU, knocking down four threes as well as his 29 points. Howie Rankine, Jr. and Jay Martin each had 14 off the bench. Jack Van Syckle contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Dominic Dunn was the final River Hawk in double figures with 13 points. Dunn also added 10 rebounds giving him his first double-double of the season and Van Syckle's six assists were a career high. 

The Profs got the scoring started with a three-pointer, but Susquehanna rattled off a 21-0 run to go up by 18 with 13:53 left in the first half, capped off by a Yurasits jumper. The River Hawks would continue to hold the advantage, holding over a 20 point lead throughout the first half. SU extended its lead to 26 with 2:43 to go, their largest lead of the game, on a fast break layup from Martin. After a layup by Van Syckle in the final minute, SU took a 52-30 advantage into the break. 

In the first half, Susquehanna took 15 more shots than Rowan, holding the Profs to just nine field goal makes. SU also went 9-18 from long distance, as the three point barrage was too much to handle for Rowan in the first half. The Profs also turned the ball over 12 times, giving SU a 16-0 advantage in points of turnovers. 

Rowan fought back in the second half however, and brought the Susquehanna advantage to within 13 with 16:08 to go in the period. Time and time again, though, the River Hawks responded, holding the lead and not allowing the Profs to bring the game within single digits. The second half offense was led by Yurasits, who had 18 of his game-high 29 in the second half. 

With 3:54 to go, Rowan cut the lead to just eight, but back to back layups from Dunn and Martin pushed SU's lead back to 12. Down the stretch, it was Yurasits once again coming through, as the senior hit a game high seven free throws, several in the final minutes. 

Susquehanna shot 46.6% from the floor and made 15-19 free throws in the game. The River Hawks also had the advantage on points off turnovers, 20-9, and the SU bench outscored the Profs 36-17. Cooper Haberern added eight points and two three-pointers to add to Susquehanna's strong bench effort. 

The River Hawks have now won 13 straight games, the most since a 15 game win streak to begin the 2015-16 season. Susquehanna has now also won an NCAA Tournament opening round game in four straight NCAA tournament appearances, with the most recent coming in the 2019-20 season when they defeated Benedictine (Ill.) in Ohio. 

Up Next 

• Susquehanna will play the winner of Christopher Newport and Baruch at 7:30 in Newport News, VA for a potential spot among the final 16 teams in Division III basketball. 

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--RIVER HAWKS--