SELINSGROVE, PA (January 10, 2023) -- The Susquehanna University men's basketball team erased a seven-point deficit over the last two minutes, coming from behind to earn a thrilling 78-77 Landmark Conference victory over the University of Scranton in play from O.W. Houts Gymnasium Tuesday evening. 

With the win, Susquehanna evened out its overall record at 7-7 for the season while moving to 2-1 in the Landmark Conference. Also with the victory Susquehanna upped its win streak to four as well as 3-0 in the calendar year of 2023. 

The last five minutes of the contest were exciting and back-and-forth as a triple from EJ Matthews-Spratley put the Royals up by seven points at 70-63. SU first-year Jackson Van Wagener answered right back with a three-pointer to make it 70-66. Another Matthews-Spratley three-pointer pushed Scranton's lead back up to 75-68 with 2:19 to go. 

After the three-pointer, Scranton was whistled for a technical foul and Howie Rankine, Jr. connected on the freebie to make it a six-point deficit for SU. On the next possession, Van Wagener nailed another trifecta from from the right wing on a step back to pull Susquehanna to within three at 75-72. 

Scranton would push its lead back up to give with 80 seconds to play after Jon Spatola hit a jumper off an offensive rebound. Rankine would get fouled on the next River Hawk possession and made both free throws to make the score 77-74. SU would force a Royal turnover on the next trip down, and Brandon Lavitt finished a nice dish from Rankine to pull SU to within one. 

The River Hawks got another stop on the next possession for Scranton, and Matthews-Spratley fouled Rankine on a drive to the rim to set up two free throws. Rankine would connect on both free throws to put Susquehanna up one at 78-77, and the Royals shot to win the game at the buzzer wouldn't go as SU held on for the victory. 

Susquehanna led by as many as seven in the first half, taking a one-point edge at 39-38 at halftime. SU was up by six at 50-44 after a lay-up by Billy Anderson with 15:36 to go in regulation, but a 10-2 spurt by the Royals later in the half put them up heading into the final minutes. 

Rankine, Jr. finished with 22 points on the night, adding six rebounds and three steals. His perfect 8-for-8 from the line was a career-high. Lavitt also registered 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting, and has now tallied 20 or more points in four of his last seven games. Van Wagener hadn't scored as a River Hawk coming into the contest, but waited for a huge game to score 11 points as he was 4-of-7 while making two of his three three-point shots. 

First-year Audric Washington just missed a double-double with eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Anderson added eight points. Susquehanna shot 52.6 percent from the floor, going 30-of-57, and held a slight 14-8 lead in second chance points. 

Jackson Danzig finished with 17 points and five rebounds in the loss for Scranton (9-5, 1-2 Landmark), and Will McLoughlin contributed 15 points and seven caroms. Spatola also added 12 points and eight rebounds for Scranton, which shot the ball well all game making 32 of its 60 field goals on the night (53.3 percent). 

The River Hawks will head to Catholic University January 13 at 6 p.m. to take on the No. 23 Cardinals in Washington, DC in more Landmark Conference play.