SCRANTON, PA (January 6, 2024) – After a three-game stretch of non-conference contests, the Susquehanna men's basketball team got back to Landmark Conference action in their first game of 2024, traveling to face the University of Scranton on Saturday afternoon. The River Hawks would continue their dominance in Landmark play, improving to 5-0 as they beat the hosting Royals 87-73.
SU would begin the day at a torrid offensive pace, making their first seven shot attempts before their first miss, and continuing to shoot well as they stretched out to a 13-point lead less than ten minutes into the first half. Despite looking outmatched in the early minutes, Scranton would not roll over easily, slowly working their way back within reach with some strong shooting of their own, shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and going seven for eight from the foul line in the first half. However, Susquehanna would shoot a red-hot 69.2 percent in the first half, making 18 of their 26 shot attempts, including going six for nine from beyond the arc. Steven Ressler proved key to that impressive long-range shooting, tallying 15 points and three made threes in the first half. The frame would end with the score 42-38 in SU's favor, as Scranton put together a six-point run in the final 1:17 of the first half.
The Royals continued to hang close in the early part of the second half, shooting an even stronger 57.7 percent from the floor and tying the game twice at 55 points and again at 59 points. But at that 59-59 tie with 11:31 to go in the game, SU would unleash a 12-point run, aided by five points from Marcus Mitchell, four from Brandon Lavitt, and another three-pointer from Ressler. From there, it was all academic for the River Hawks, as their lead never dropped below double digits. Scranton's strong shooting would not extend beyond the arc like SU's, as the River Hawks made six threes in each half, while Scranton went eight for 20, including just three for nine in the second half.
Susquehanna finished the day with a heady 63.6 percent shooting mark from the floor, including going 60 percent from three. Impressive ball movement proved key to all of the good looks on the offensive end, as the River Hawks racked up 25 assists as a team. This was led by Jackson Van Wagener, who tallied a career-high six assists and no turnovers, also scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds. Five River Hawks reached double-digit points, led by Ressler, who racked up a career-high 26 points and six total made threes. He added five assists, four rebounds, and a team-leading two steals. Cooper Haberern continued to be a threat from deep as well, going four for six from beyond the arc enroute to 14 points, along with three assists and two rebounds. Billy Anderson was dominant in the paint, also scoring 14 points on seven of nine shooting, while tying Lavitt for the team lead in rebounds with six each. Lavitt followed just behind in points with 13, doing so while making five of his six shot attempts, and adding four assists. Mitchell would be the fifth River Hawk in double digits, scoring 10 points on four of six shooting, including a perfect two for two from long range.
Susquehanna continues to prove itself as a strong contender for the Landmark title this season, now the only remaining undefeated team in conference play. They'll get to take to home court for the first time in 2024 in their next game, hosting Lycoming College on Tuesday, January 9 for their first-ever matchup as members of the Landmark Conference. That game will tip off at 7 pm.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
