BETHLEHEM, PA – The Susquehanna Men's Basketball team fell to host Moravian University on Saturday, 89-84, after surrendering a 20-point lead from the first half. The River Hawks controlled the game early, but the Greyhounds mounted a second-half comeback to secure the win.
Susquehanna stormed out of the game on a 10-2 run in the game's first four minutes, capitalizing off of turnovers and missed shots by Moravian. Audric Washington, who had 14 total points, and Brandon Lavitt, who finished with nine points, each had four of the ten points. The River Hawks had their largest lead of the game up by 20 points when a Steven Ressler three put Susquehanna up, 48-28, with under three minutes left before halftime. Ressler finished with two 3-pointers towards an eight-point day.
Allen Cieslak, who had a team-high 16 points, made two key three-pointers midway through the first half, furthering the River Hawks' hot start and extending their lead to double digits. Moravian briefly cut Susquehanna's lead to eight, closing the gap of what was once a 13-point River Hawks lead, but junior big man Billy Anderson had a strong stretch of scoring a few minutes later, scoring six of his 11 points in the final four minutes of the half. Anderson's hot streak propelled Susquehanna to a 52-36 lead at halftime.
Moravian scored six points in just 40 seconds towards the beginning of the second half, cutting Susquehanna's lead to 11, shifting the momentum in the game. The Greyhounds continued to chip away as six straight points by Marquis Ratcliff helped to bring Susquehanna's lead down to three midway through the second half. A three-pointer by Moravian's Michael Leonardo tied the game with 8:14 remaining.
The River Hawks couldn't respond right away as Moravian made four straight three-pointers to capture the lead, taking an 84-73 lead with 3:05 remaining. The three-pointers were the difference in the game as the Greyhounds posted 12 three pointers compared to Susquehanna's seven.
Susquehanna was able to mount a late rally as a transition three-pointer by Cieslak and a coast-to-coast steal and score by Jackson Van Wagener gave Susquehanna hope with 1:25 left. Mike Pirone then made a momentum-shifting three-pointer with just :14 remaining, but the River Hawks couldn't keep the late magic alive as Moravian held on to seal the deal.
Saturday's loss to Moravian marks Susquehanna's first conference defeat of the season, dropping their Landmark record to 1-1. The River Hawks head to Washington, DC to match up against 4-1 Catholic University on December 4.
