SELINSGROVE, PA - Four double-digit scorers weren't enough to secure a win for the Susquehanna men's basketball team on Saturday, as they fell to visiting Arcadia in overtime, 79-76, in non-conference action.
Brandon Lavitt led the River Hawks with a team-high 17 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting, adding four rebounds and four assists to his standout performance. Mike Pirone contributed 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting, while Billy Anderson added 15 points. Cooper Haberern posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Knights countered with five in double figures, led by guard Jamison Lynam's 20 points.
The first half saw both teams exchanging momentum. Arcadia broke away with an 8-0 run midway through the half to take an early lead, but Susquehanna battled back to close the gap, trailing just 34-29 at halftime. Arcadia's success from beyond the arc was the difference, converting three three-pointers compared to the River Hawks' 1-for-4 effort. Lavitt scored 10 of his 17 points in the first half, while Audric Washington added all six of his points in the first half. Washington also grabbed seven rebounds in the game. The River Hawks shot better in the second half to finish with 47.5 percent made from the floor (28-of-59) compared to Arcadia's 41.7 percent (25-of-60). Though both sides connected sparingly from 3-point range, with SU making 4-of-20 and AU 6-of-20, they tallied more points from the free throw line in a foul-latent day, with Susquehanna making 16-of-22 and Arcadia 23-of-28.
Susquehanna started the second half strong, opening with a 9-4 run highlighted by Anderson's four points and a big time three-pointer from Haberern. Arcadia responded with a 12-4 surge of their own but couldn't pull away as Susquehanna stayed within striking distance. The River Hawks eventually took the lead with under five minutes remaining. After trading baskets in the closing minutes, Steven Ressler made a critical layup with 1:30 left to tie the game at 66. Both teams then went cold, sending the game to overtime. Arcadia opened the scoring instantly as Joshua Okocha took the opening tipoff to the rim on a fastbreak, igniting a 7-2 opening run for the Knights that the River Hawks could not overcome.
The non-conference defeat drops the River Hawks to 5-6 on the season. They aim to regroup on Wednesday, January 8, when they travel to Madison, New Jersey, to face the 8-3 Drew Rangers. Both sides return to the site where they left off from in last year's Landmark Semifinals, where Susquehanna defeated Drew, 68-66.
