SELINSGROVE, PA – Cooper Haberern and Billy Anderson combined for 41 points on Saturday afternoon, leading Susquehanna men's basketball to a key Landmark Conference victory at home over Moravian, 92-69. Susquehanna's fifth straight win moves the River Hawks above the Greyhounds in the Landmark Conference standings in third place.
Anderson, who recorded a double-double, scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half and seven in the game's opening ten minutes. His efforts, alongside Brandon Lavitt's 11 first-half points, helped the River Hawks rally early against a Moravian team they had previously lost to earlier in the season. Moravian's Chad Kratzer kept the Greyhounds competitive with 18 first-half points. Kratzer finished the game with 30 points on 61.1% shooting, including three three-pointers, but Susquehanna led at halftime, 40-39.
In the second half, Susquehanna's defense clamped down, holding Moravian to 34.5% shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the River Hawks continued to find their rhythm offensively, shooting 55.2% overall and 50% from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. Haberern was instrumental after the break, hitting three three-pointers in the opening three minutes of the second half, helping Susquehanna extend their lead to double digits. He had 20 total points in the game. Mike Pirone added to the late-game surge, scoring six of his 16 points in the final 4:30, including an and-one play that brought O.W. Houts Gymnasium crowd to its feet. Jackson Van Wagener and Logan Rhoades each added six points for the River Hawks. Van Wagener also tallied eight assists and six rebounds, while Rhoades sank two three-pointers, shooting 66% from the field.
With the win, Susquehanna improves to 10-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play, while Moravian drops to 11-6 and 6-4, respectively. Additionally, the River Hawks erased for good the bitterness of their first meeting back on Nov. 23 where the Greyhounds rallied to win, 89-84. The fight carries on for the orange and maroon as Susquehanna is set to rematch Catholic at home on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Cardinals hold a 9-1 league mark and 14-3 overall as Susquehanna looks to settle a score that began on Dec. 4 when Catholic posted a 75-51 victory. Ahead of both Susquehanna and Catholic in the Landmark standings is Drew, who is currently 10-0 in the conferenec and 14-3 overall.
