ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (December 9, 2023) – Led by some efficient shooting and four players off the bench reaching double-digit scoring, the Susquehanna men's basketball team extended their win streak to four on Saturday afternoon as they beat Elizabethtown on the road 75-68.
The teams would trade the lead back and forth throughout the first half, with SU jumping out in front with the first four points, but the Blue Jays coming back and leading by as many as four points on two different occasions during the half. A late run in the final three minutes would see Susquehanna go on a 9-2 scoring run to make the score 31-26 in their favor at the halftime whistle. All told, the lead would switch hands eight times in just the first half.
Contrary to the back and forth of the first half, the River Hawks would control the lead for nearly the entirety of the second, with E-Town able to tie the score three times but only able to take the lead one more time, with 9:26 left in the game. However, Susquehanna would respond quickly, with a Steven Ressler jumper putting SU back up by one before Cooper Haberern hit a three to spark what would be another nine-point run from the River Hawks. Haberern would be one of five players in double digits, with the other four all coming off the bench. Haberern was the sparkplug throughout the night, playing all but six minutes in the game and totaling 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. His rebounds and assists would lead the team on the night, tying Jackson Van Wagener in assists. Van Wagener would grab a season-high seven boards, also adding two points.
Marcus Mitchell would lead SU in scoring with 17 points on the night, one of the key players off the bench and proving crucial to the River Hawks maintaining their lead in the second half, scoring all of his points in the second half and ending the game on an emphatic dunk to put the gap out of reach for the hosts. Billy Anderson, Brandon Lavitt, and Ressler would be the other three off the bench, scoring 14, 12, and ten, respectively. SU also had assists on 15 of their 30 made baskets on the night, distributing the ball well enroute to a 49.2 team shooting percentage.
Heading into a three-game non-conference stretch, Susquehanna sits tied atop the Landmark Conference at 4-0 with Drew University. They'll remain on the road for their next three, visiting Neumann University in a week's time on Saturday, December 16 at 2 pm, then traveling south to take part in the Washington & Lee Holiday Tournament. They'll take on Denison University on Friday, December 29th at 4 pm, then facing either the hosts or Franklin & Marshall the following day.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
