SELINSGROVE, PA (February 11, 2023) – The River Hawk men's basketball team faced a stiff test for their Senior Day matchup on Saturday, taking on conference leaders Catholic University, who entered the day with just one loss. That one loss of course having come at the hands of SU earlier this season. And after an incredible back-and-forth matchup, the Cardinals left Selinsgrove with a second loss, as Susquehanna completed yet another late comeback this season, winning 78-77.
The game began in nearly perfect fashion for Susquehanna, as they jumped out to huge lead in the early minutes of the game, going on a 27-8 scoring run in the opening eight minutes, led by a remarkable 14-point outburst from senior Howie Rankine, Jr. in that time frame. Slowly but surely though, the Cardinals clawed their way back into the game, riding their typically efficient offense and 50 percent three-point shooting all the way back into the game, taking a one-point lead with 40 seconds to go in the half. SU answered with a Marcus Mitchell jumper to make the score 40-39 at the halftime whistle.
It would be Catholic with the hot start in the second half, with the Cardinals reaching a double-digit lead of their own, leading by as many as 12 at the 9:06 mark in the second half. But again, it would be Rankine, Jr. who showed up big to spark a comeback, hitting a three-pointer and then two free throws to cut the deficit to seven. From there, the team's traded buckets for nearly five minutes, Susquehanna unable to get the gap below five points. But with the score 77-70 and just two-and-a-half minutes to go, the River Hawks kicked into gear, with first-year Brandon Lavitt stepping up to ignite the final run. He would hit a jumped off a Rankine assist before SU got a stop on the defensive end. Then with 47 seconds on the clock, it would be Lavitt again, this time stepping up to hit a clutch three-point shot, his first all season, to cut the gap to two points. Then continuing his brilliant performance, Rankine stripped the Catholic ballhandler on the ensuing possession, sprinting back down the court to lay in the breakaway score and tie the game at 77-77. Once more, Susquehanna's defense held firm, rebounding the Catholic miss and getting the chance to win the game. And they would do just that, as Lavitt made one more remarkable play, drawing a foul on a drive with less than four seconds left, then hitting the go-ahead free throw before missing the second and seeing the clock run out before Catholic could get off a final shot.
In a performance fitting the Senior Day stage, Rankine, Jr. finished the game with 26 points, five rebounds, and four steals. The steals also saw him set a new Landmark Conference record for steals in Landmark Conference play in a season with a total of 40, breaking a record that stood for more than ten years. Three other River Hawks tallied double-digit points, with Lavitt scoring 14, senior Quincy Haughton scoring 11, and first-year Jackson Van Wagener also dropping 11. Lavitt and Haughton tied for the team rebounding lead with eight apiece.
Now firmly in second place in the conference and just one game behind Catholic, the River Hawks have clinched a playoff berth with two games to spare, setting up their fourth consecutive Landmark postseason appearance and a chance to win a third consecutive conference title. Their next game will take them on the road, as they'll visit Goucher on Wednesday night, tipping off at 7 pm.
Facebook: susquehanna.riverhawks | Instagram: @gosusqu
Twitter: @GOsusqU | Hashtags: #AllIn, #GOSU, #RiverHawkPride
--RIVER HAWKS--
