SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna men's basketball team fell short to Marymount, 77-70 on Saturday in the championship game of the Susquehanna Tipoff Tournament. Despite a strong performance in the second half, the River Hawks weren't able to overcome an early lead posted by the Saints in their first defeat of the early 2024-25 season.
 
Junior forward Brandon Lavitt led the River Hawks, scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. His 13 points in the second half helped to close the deficit that Susquehanna faced, keeping the second-half competitive. Jackson Van Wagener, who scored 14 points, made a key layup to bring the game back within two in the middle of the second half.
 
A slow first half that saw Marymount outscoring the River Hawks by 11 points was the difference maker in the game. Susquehanna got into foul trouble early as the Saints entered the bonus with over 10 minutes to play in the first half, allowing Marymount to outscore the River Hawks by five points at the free-throw line. The Saints also shot 54.5% from deep in the first half, cashing in on six three-pointers.
 
Susquehanna started the second half on a 11-4 run, cutting the lead to just four thanks to Lavitt, Van Wagener, and a key three-pointer by Steven Ressler, who finished the game with eight points. Junior center Billy Anderson, who was courted as Susquehanna's All-Tournament selection, also scored 10 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, continuing in the double-digits following his stellar 20-point performance on Friday night. The push brought the River Hawks within striking distance of Marymount.
 
The River Hawks' early second-half surge that saw Marymount's lead cut to just two would be silenced when the Saints went on an 11-2 run in just one minute of play with around 11 minutes remaining, extending their lead to 61-52. Susquehanna made a late run with under three minutes to play, facilitating a 10-4 run, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback
 
Susquehanna men's basketball, now 2-1, aims to shake the tournament defeat next Wednesday at O.W. Houts Gymnasium in the Landmark season opener when they square off against 1-1 Goucher, who hasn't beaten the River Hawks since February of 2014. Susquehanna took care of business against Goucher last season in the Landmark Conference Tournament, handling the Gophers, 85-59.