BALTIMORE, MD (February 15, 2023) -- The Susquehanna University men's basketball team, recently ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Regional Rankings, scored 66 points in the paint Wednesday in a 89-70 road win over Goucher College in Landmark Conference play. With the win, SU (15-9, 10-3 Landmark) upped its win streak to four while the River Hawks have won seven of their last eight contests overall. 

The game was close through the first four minutes, as Goucher (2-21, 0-13 Landmark) led 12-11 after a David Nwankwo lay-up with 15:40 to play in the first frame. Senior Quincy Haughton hit a jumper on SU's next possession to start an 11-0 run, capped by a triple from senior Howie Rankine, Jr. to put the River Hawks up 10 at 22-12.

The River Hawks would push their lead up to as much as 18 points on multiple occasions, including at the end of the first half as they took a 53-35 lead into halftime. The Susquehanna edge would hover around 20 for the remainder of the game as it rolled to the conference victory. 

The win was an important one for the River Hawks, as coupled with Catholic University's loss at Juniata College meant that SU has moved into the No. 1 seed for the Landmark Conference playoffs that start next week. Both CUA and Susquehanna are 10-3 in the conference, but SU swept the Cardinals in the regular season. 

First-year Brandon Lavitt continued his strong play of late, recording his third double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Lavitt was 9-of-13 from the floor Wednesday. Rankine had another monster game with 20 points, seven boards, eight assists and three steals, connect on 9-of-16 including both of his three-point attempts. 

First-year center Audric Washington finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, and classmate Billy Anderson tallied 12 points in 15 minutes off the bench. First-year guard Jackson Van Wagener and Haughton each finished with seven points apiece, as SU shot 54.9 percent (39-71) from the floor. The River Hawks also held a 42-30 rebounding advantage. The River Hawks have now won 12 of their last 14 games. 

Josh Lichti led Goucher with 15 points, and Jacob Morgan added 13 points in the loss. 

Susquehanna finishes the regular season on the road Saturday, traveling to Bethlehem, PA at 4 p.m. for Landmark Conference play. The four teams that are in the Landmark Conference playoffs are set, as University of Scranton and Juniata joining Catholic and SU. 

If Susquehanna wins Saturday, they'll be the No. 1 seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs and host the loser of Saturday's game with Juniata and Scranton in the semifinals next Wednesday, February 22.

If SU loses and Catholic wins, then Susquehanna would be the No. 2 seed and play the winner of the Juniata-Scranton game at home next Wednesday. If SU and Catholic both lose, SU would be the top seed, regardless of what 9-4 Scranton and Juniata do.