SELINSGROVE, PA - Eighteen 3-pointers and fast play on both sides lifted Susquehanna to a 96-60 win over King's Friday night in their home opener and opening-round game of the Mike Scheib Memorial Tipoff Tournament. With the win, the River Hawks now advance to face York in Saturday's championship game of the Mike Schieb '78 Tip-Off Tournament. The Spartans defeated Notre Dame of Md. in their opening-round game.
HOW IT WENT DOWN:
- Four of the five members of Susquehanna's starting five scored in the first five minutes, thrusting the River Hawks to an early 10-7 lead and forcing King's to take an early timeout. Threes from Luke Fryer and Audric Washington gave them the early momentum. Fryer finished the game with nine points, all coming from his three three-pointers.
- Fryer, K.J. Carson, Mikey Cumbo, A.J. Lomax, and Billy Anderson all contributed plenty to the team's three-point avalanche, each making at least two. Anderson led the team with four, while Lomax joined Fryer with three made shots from beyond the arc.
- Susquehanna went on a 23-6 run soon after the early stalemate, one generated by lights-out three-point shooting again. The River Hawks made five of their eight three-point shots during that run and finished with 18 total threes in the game. Anderson scored ten of his 18 total points over that five-minute stretch.
- First-year KJ Carson made his two three-pointers in just one minute heading into halftime as the River Hawks built a cushion. They took a 47-25 lead into the half.
- Despite an even start to the second half, the River Hawks' three-point barrage continued. Susquehanna made seven threes on 41.2% shooting from beyond the arc, pairing that proficiency with a stellar 48.8% shooting from the field overall.
- Ian Robinson led the River Hawks' second-half dominance, finishing the game with a double-double and scoring a team-high 13 points after the break. Robinson grabbed ten rebounds and dished out two assists.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- All but five of Susquehanna's 18 ballers who took the court scored points Friday night, led by 18 from Billy Anderson, who led making 4-of-6 threes as Susquehanna shot 18-of-39 from behind the arc. He was followed in the long-shooting category with Luke Fryer making 3-of-6 threes and AJ Lomax making 3-of-4 as the latter made 13 points. SU's bench totaled 69 points to King's bench totaling 24 points.
- Ian Robinson tallied a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds, making his lone 3-point attempt of the evening and making 6-of-9 from the floor.
- Susquehanna's rebounding game outfavored King's by a 45-32 margin, including 14 offensive boards.
- Mikey Cumbo led with five assists and made 2-of-4 threes in an eight-point night. Brandon Lavitt netted four assists to go with as many points and six rebounds.
- The Monarchs were not as successful from 3-point range, making 5-of-22 and shot 36.4 percent on night at 20-of-55. The River Hawks made 50.0 percent shooting on 39-of-78 and only went to the free throw line once.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna now turns their focus to Saturday's championship matchup vs York, one that is set to take place at three o'clock in Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium. The River Hawks are eying to be crowned the first champion of the inaugural Tip-Off Tournament dedicated to alumni Mike Schieb.
