HUNTINGDON, PA - Wednesday night featured Susquehanna University traveling to take on Juniata in Landmark Conference action. While both teams were vying to keep pace in the Landmark playoff picture, both sides had a rough night shooting the ball as Juniata held a 26-25 halftime lead. The host Eagles gained enough traction to pull away in the second half with just 36 points in the frame for a 62-43 victory.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
- Susquehanna led at the outset, 6-2, before Juniata got its motor going, leading 13-6 through the opening six minutes.
- Susquehanna went on a 10-3 run to tie the game at 16-16 thanks to some solid play in the paint by Audric Washington and Brandon Lavitt. KJ Carson's jumper tied it at 16 all.
- The River Hawks got the lead back when Logan Rhoades made a three to make it 20-18.
- The lead seesawed between either side through the rest of the half. A Lavitt jumper made the score 25-22 in favor of Susquehanna before Juniata mustered up the last four points of the half in the final two-and-a-half minutes. Malcolm Griffith made a jumper to cut SU's lead to one before Tre Yawn and Ty Kocak kicked in one free throw each for the one-point lead.
- Both sides exchanged leads in the opening minutes of the second half as Susquehanna managed a pair of early one-point leads from a Washington field goal and free throws from Mario Castro Sanchez.
- Things suddenly took a dark turn for the River Hawks, who made only four second-half field goals on 27 attempts. The Eagles, meanwhile, fared 11-of-28 from the field in the final 20 to assert command down the stretch.
- While Susquehanna was able to keep the game close thanks to making 10-of-12 free throws to aid in their second-half scoring, the Eagles eventually built a ten-point lead in the final five minutes up 49-39 and closed the game on a 13-4 run. In all, Juniata went on a 33-14 run in the final 13 minutes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Juniata outshot Susquehanna from the field, making 35.6 percent (21-of-59) to the River Hawks' 26.9 percent (14-of-52), with the main difference coming from beyond the arc. The Eagles made 5-of-16 three pointers, while Rhoades' first-half 3-pointer standing as Susquehanna's lone triple of the night at 1-of-18.
- Susquehanna continued its consistency from the free throw line, making 14-of-17 while Juniata converted on 15-of-24.
- Three River Hawks scored eight points on Wednesday in Mario Castro Sanchez, Audric Washington, and Brandon Lavitt. All eight of Castro Sanchez's points were on free throws, where he made 8-of-10 on the night.
- Susquehanna did hold a 40-39 advantage in rebounds, with Lavitt and Emezie Egeonu leading the team with seven apiece.
- Washington led the team with two blocks.
- Another disparity was points off turnovers, where the Eagles led 15-3 off of 18 Susquehanna turnovers.
UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS
- Susquehanna looks to snap a two-game skid with a Saturday Landmark road matchup at Moravian, which tips off at 2 p.m. They then travel to Wilkes to face the Colonels on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
- The River Hawks return home for the Saturday, Feb. 7 Hall of Fame game versus Lycoming.
