2007-08 Game Summaries

February 27: Juniata 77, Susquehanna 49
February 23: Susquehanna 60, Juniata 55
February 17: Drew 56, Susquehanna 52
February 16: Merchant Marine 87, Susquehanna 68
February 10: Susquehanna 74, Catholic 61
February 9: Susquehanna 71, Goucher 58
February 2: Scranton 73, Susquehanna 60
February 1: Moravian 76, Susquehanna 69
January 27: Susquehanna 79, Goucher 62
January 26: Susquehanna 70, Catholic 57
January 19: Susquehanna 76, Merchant Marine 62
January 18: Susquehanna 51, Drew 42
January 12: Susquehanna 92, Moravian 81
January 11: Susquehanna 78, Scranton 70
January 5: Coastal Carolina 83, Susquehanna 72
December 19: King's 94, Susquehanna 71
December 18: Hood 75, Susquehanna 70
December 8: Lycoming 73, Susquehanna 68
December 6: Misericordia 73, Susquehanna 68
December 1: Susquehanna 75, Juniata 71
November 28: Wilkes 74, Susquehanna 72 (OT)
November 25: Susquehanna 66, Haverford 59 (OT)
November 24: Ohio Northern 70, Susquehanna 59
November 17: Susquehanna 86, Mary Washington 62
November 16: Susquehanna 87, Kean 80 (OT)

Patch Leads Crusaders with 10 Points in Landmark Semi-final Loss against Juniata

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Junior Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead Susquehanna (13-12) in a 77-49 loss in the Landmark Semi-final game versus Juniata (17-9) at O.W. Houts Gymnasium. Juniata will face Scranton in Scranton, Pa. on Saturday in the championship game.

Despite trailing 42-21 in the first 20 minutes of play, Susquehanna opened the second half with a 14-2 run to cut the margin to nine at 44-35 with 13:28 remaining. During the six-plus time span, the Crusaders forced fived turnovers and held the Eagles to 1-of-5 shooting from the field, while going 4-for-5 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the stripe. SU would not get closer than nine the rest of the way, however.

For the Eagles, Brian Cannon led all scorers in the game with 21 points and eight boards. Garrett Bull had 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Jeff Berkey and Eric Mueseler tallied 13 points and 11 points, respectively.

Juniata held SU to a 29.1 percent shooting clip and posted a 38-23 advantage on the boards.

Despite the loss, SU finished the season having a representative in the top five of six Landmark statistical categories Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) was first in scoring with 21.7 points per game, fourth in free throw-percentage at 82.2 percent, and fourth in three-pointers (2.25 apg). Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) held the fifth spot in scoring averaging 15.1 points per outing. Patch finished second in the league in rebounds (7.2 rpg), and third in field goal percentage at 55.3 percent. Point-guard Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) concluded the season as second in the Landmark in assists with a 4.42 per game average.

Cuff finished his collegiate career totaling 1,165 career points and 433 rebounds to move him to No. 20 on Susquehanna’s all-time scoring list. He was recently named to the 2007-08 First-Team All Landmark Conference, and was a 2006-07 Middle-Atlantic Conference First-Team selection.

In spite of missing the last four games with an injury, Robinson was named the 2007-08 Landmark Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All Conference selection. He finished the season with 433 points (21.7 ppg), and totaled 1,070 career points, which placed him at No. 26 on Susquehanna’s all time scoring list.

Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) finished his career with 131 total three-pointers, which places him at No. 6 in Susquehanna’s all-time three point category.

Crusaders Clinch Top Seed in Landmark Conference Playoffs

SELINSGROVE, PA – Four Crusaders placed in double figures as Susquehanna (13-11, 10-4 LC) held on to the lead late in the game to edge Juniata (16-9, 9-5 LC) in the regular season finale at O.W. Houts Gymnasium Saturday night. With the win, SU clinched the top seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs and will host Juniata again on Wednesday Feb. 27 in the semi-final game.

Junior Matt McDevitt (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) tallied a season-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field to lead the Crusaders in scoring. Senior Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) contributed 12 points on the evening, while junior Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) had 11 points and pulled nine off the glass – just one rebound shy of his sixth double-double of the season. Senior Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) rounded off double-digit scoring hitting four baskets, good for 11 points. Sophomore point-guard Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) dished out eight assists in the win.

Juniata was led by Brian Cannon’s game-best 19 points. Garrett Bull scored 11 on 4-of-6 shooting, while Jeff Berkey was one point shy with 10.

The first half was a low scoring affair as the lead see-sawed twice before the Crusaders scored seven unanswered points, capped by a thunderous dunk from Patch in the last 30 seconds, to take a 26-21 advantage into the lockerroom.

The Crusaders increased their lead to six, 31-25, on baskets by Majors and McDevitt at the 17:15 mark. However, the visiting Eagles rattled off eight straight to gain their first advantage (33-31) since the 4:24 mark of the opening half. SU knotted the score on the next possession with a McDevitt layup, but Juniata retook the lead and sustained it for the proceeding seven-plus minutes. The Eagles led by as many as seven points (47-40) with 7:31 on the clock, until the Crusaders notched a 10-2 run over a three-minute span capped by a Patch fast break dunk to ultimately retake the advantage for good at 50-49 with four minutes remaining in regulation.

Highlighted by a Cuff trey, Susquehanna outscored Juniata 10-6 in the last four minutes, capped by another Patch dunk – his third of the game – to maintain the lead for the 60-55 victory. Both teams were even in scoring, putting up 34 second half points. The Crusaders held a 33-29 edge on the glass over the Eagles, including 10 offensive rebounds. SU had 15 assists on 24 hoops for the game, while scoring 12 points off 12 Eagle miscues.

Susquehanna’s Comeback Effort Falls Short Against Drew, 56-52 Box Score

MADISON, N.J. – Despite turning a 39-27 deficit into a 50-44 advantage with 6:35 remaining in the game, the Susquehanna University Crusaders (12-11, 9-4) could not sustain the lead and ultimately fell by a score of 56-52 to the Drew University Rangers (7-17, 4-9) Sunday afternoon at Baldwin Gym.

SU senior Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) knocked down four treys in the Crusaders’ second half 20-3 charge to register a total of seven three-pointers to tie a single season record for that category. Cuff finished with 27 points, to lead all scorers in the game. Junior Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) scored nine points and grabbed a team-leading 12 rebounds – just one point shy of his sixth double-double of the season.

Drew’s leading scorer Chris Lopez recorded 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting while freshman guard Mike Mayes added 14 points and four assists in the victory for the Rangers.

Susquehanna fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first half as Drew took a 33-23 advantage heading into halftime.

In the second period the Rangers continued to expand their lead, taking control of the game by the 15:40 mark at 39-27. However, the Crusaders would then be sparked by a three-pointer from Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon), while Cuff hit four of his own, to eventually claim a six point lead, 50-44, with just over six minutes remaining in the game. Cuff scored 16 of his 27 points during the Crusaders’ 20-3 surge.

The Rangers ran off seven straight to reclaim the lead at 51-50 with 2:33 showing. SU was held to just a basket by Okonak in the last two minute stretch to fall to 9-4 in conference play.

The Rangers outshot the Crusaders 44.4 percent–35.7 percent, but SU held a 30-27 edge on the glass over Drew. In addition, SU scored 16 points off 23 Ranger miscues.

The Crusaders return back home for senior night on Feb. 23 to face Juniata. With Susquehanna’s loss today, both teams are tied for first place in the Landmark. The game is slated for 8 p.m.

Merchant Marine sinks Susquehanna, 87-68 Box Score

KING'S POINT, N.Y. – The Susquehanna University men's basketball team got off to a rough start to its two-day Landmark Conference road trip, falling to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 87-68 Saturday.

Merchant Marine (11-12, 6-6 Landmark) held a three point lead over the Crusaders (12-10, 9-3 Landmark) at the half, but maintained the advantage through back-and-forth scoring to open the second period. A Quincy Doffeny trey at the 14:38 mark put the Mariners up by nine and Susquehanna would never pull any closer.

For the Crusaders, Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) returned to the court after a two-game layoff and led the team with 18 points and three rebounds. Brad Okanak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) added 24 minutes off the bench and had 17 points and three steals.

The Mariners out-rebounded Susquehanna, 34-20, and shot 59.3 percent to the Crusaders' 45.1 percent. Merchant Marine also hit 12 shots from three-point range, but the Crusaders only mustered six.

Pat Grace and Tom Izzo led the Mariners with 17 and 11 points, respectively.

Susquehanna travels to Drew University on Sunday for the second game of the Landmark trip. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on WQSU.

Crusaders Clinch Playoff Berth Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna University men’s basketball team clinched a spot in the Landmark playoffs with a 74-61 win over the Catholic University. The Crusaders improve to 12-9 overall (9-2 Landmark), while the Cardinals fall to 8-14 overall (2-9 Landmark).

Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) tied his season-high finishing the game with 27 points and six boards. Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) set a new career-high with 15 points and game-best eight rebounds. Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) tallied 12 points, pulled down six boards, and recorded four swipes.

The score was close in the beginning of the first half as Catholic jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first five minutes of play. However, SU rattled off 14 unanswered points, which included three baskets and a thunderous dunk all by Patch, to gain a double digit advantage (16-6) midway through the first period. The Crusaders achieved their largest lead, 37-15, on a three-point play by Robinson with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Susquehanna entered intermission with a comfortable 39-20 cushion.

Robinson led all scorers at the half with 12 points and Patch had 10. SU shot 46.7 from the field while holding the Cardinals to a 25.8 percent clip.

Susquehanna increased its advantage to 23 (45-22) within the opening minute of the second stint with two baskets from Robinson and layup by Cosgrove. However, fueled by a triple from R.J. Dixon at the 17:05 mark, the Cardinals went on an 18-2 run over a five minute span to pull to within seven, 50-43, with 12:58 showing on the clock. Both teams battled back-and-forth over the proceeding four-plus minutes until Catholic netted five to cut it to six, 57-51, with just under seven left in regulation. Susquehanna scored 10 points in the final three minutes, five of which came from Cosgrove, to pull away with the victory. The Cardinals were held to just three points during that time span.

For the game, the Crusaders held a 39-36 edge on the glass over the visiting Cardinals. They converted 19 points off 10 Cardinal miscues, while committing a season-low five turnovers.

Catholic was paced by Banzhaf with 16 points and seven rebounds. Wes Parker had 11, while Dixon chipped in with 9.

The Crusaders return to action on Feb. 16 when they travel to Merchant Marine. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Susquehanna comes home to 71-58 win over Goucher Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – The Susquehanna University men's basketball team returned to the friendly confines of O.W. Houts Gymnasium Saturday and got one back in the win column, taking a 71-58 victory over Landmark Conference foe Goucher College (6-14, 4-6 Landmark).

The Crusaders (11-9, 8-2 Landmark) never trailed in the game, leading by seven at the half. Both teams struggled to open the second, as neither scored until two minutes had elapsed.

The two teams traded shots back and forth and the Gophers pulled within six, but a Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) dunk at 15:02 put the Crusader lead back in double digits. Goucher would get as close as six twice more, but no closer.

Senior Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) led Susquehanna in scoring with a season-high 27 points. Freshman Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) (right) recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds.

Patch also pulled down 10 boards, all on the defensive side, while Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) led the team in assists with six. Patch and Cosgrove each added four blocks.

For the Gophers, Darrin Boswell had 19 points and Nick DeSouza added eight rebounds and five assists.

Susquehanna returns to action Sunday afternoon in the second half of a conference weekend, facing Catholic at 4 p.m.

Robinson Hits 1,000 Point Milestone in 73-60 Loss to Scranton

SCRANTON, PA – Senior Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) moves onto Susquehanna’s all-time scoring list with 1,016 career points as the Crusaders dropped their second straight conference game on the road at Scranton on Saturday afternoon. Robinson joins current teammate Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) who reached the milestone during the Coastal Carolina game on Jan. 5. With the loss, SU drops to 10-9 overall and 7-2 in league play.

Susquehanna jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a layup from Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) in the opening minute of play. The Royals (13-7, 5-4) scored 5 straight to take a 7-6 short-lived lead three minutes into the game. Robinson’s trey at the 16:45 mark ignited the Crusaders to rattle off five more unanswered points within the minute to achieve a 12-6 margin. Scranton snapped the run on a Paul Biagioli layup, but SU followed the next possession with a Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) layup.

The Royals tied the score at 16-16 on a three-pointer by Ryan Kirk, and took their first lead since the beginning of the game on a Dan O’Connell basket the next possession. The Crusaders knotted the score at 18-18 on a pair of free-throws by Robinson with just over five minutes remaining in the period, but SU was never able to gain the advantage. Scranton netted 12 points in the last four minutes, while the Crusaders were held to just one point to trail 44-29 heading into the half.

Robinson led all scorers at the half with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. Kirk and Kevin FitzPatrick led Scranton with nine points. The Crusaders was 50 percent from the field on 10-of-20 shooting, while the Royals were 63 percent (17-of-27).

Scranton kept a comfortable double-digit advantage in the second half as Susquehanna trailed by as many as 18 points. The Crusaders notched an 11-3 run over a six-minute span to pull to within 10, 59-49, with just under nine minutes to play. However, Susquehanna would not get closer than that as Scranton held on to its double-digit lead for the win.

Robinson finished with 20 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including an 11-for-14 tab at the charity stripe. Cuff finished with nine points while Patch, Cosgrove, and Majors followed closely behind with eight. Bioagioli, Kirk, and FitzPatrick paced the Royals with 14 points apiece. Bicknell tallied 12 points and a game-best 10 boards.

The Crusaders Lose First Conferece Game of the Year Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A six game Susquehanna winning streak and an undefeated conference record was spoiled on Friday night in Johnston Hall on the campus of Moravian College.

The Greyhounds of Moravian topped the Crusaders 76-69 to improve to 14-5 overall (5-3 LC) while Susquehanna dropped to 10-8 overall (7-1 LC).

Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) broke the ice at 19:16 with a jumper and followed with another two points merely moments later to give Susquehanna four in the opening two minutes.

A good jumper by Moravian's Chris Earley knotted the game at six four minutes into action. The Crusaders rid of their possession with a turnover; however Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) swatted away a layup at 15:49 that lead to a jumper in the paint from the hands of Andy Gaebel (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte). This shot put the Crusaders up by two; however it proved to be a short lived lead. It was immediately reversed by a Hound jumper.

The Hounds then went ahead 10-8 on a put-back. In an attempt to collect his team, Coach Frank Marcinek was granted a timeout at 11:24. Returning to play, senior Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) hit a three on the baseline to put the Crusaders up one final time, 11-10. A Steve Siracusa in-the-paint move put Moravian up by one; they never looked back.

Unfortunately it was three minutes until the Crusaders would contribute to the scoreboard when Robinson sunk a free throw. Moravian followed with a three, to lead 21-12.

With hopes of a comeback, Okonak hit two and the Crusaders enforced a full-court press. Creating a steal by Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg), the press led to a Robinson layup to bring Susquehanna within five at 4:45.

The Hounds kept ahead in the final minutes of the first, not allowing Susquehanna to break a two-possesion game. Moravian led 32-25 at the half.

Eight seconds out of the locker-room, Moravian increased their lead by two; Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) responded with two of his own.

A Majors steal dished in to Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) brought the Crusaders within six but the Hounds wasted no time jumping back to a double-digit lead, 41-31, at 16:44.

Susquehanna held tight and narrowed the Hounds lead on multiple occasions to five. Despite their efforts, five was as close as they came. For the remaining ten minutes of action, solid, successful plays were seldom for the traveling orange and maroon men.

The Greyhounds gained their largest lead of the game at 3:39, 66-52. Starving for a comeback, Cuff hit a three-pointer at 3:25. Next in line were Robinson's foul shots to bring the game back within nine.

Time ticked and the Crusaders found themselves down nine with 57 lingering seconds remaining. Robinson hit a pair of free throws and Susquehanna threw on a tight press yet Moravian broke through and Ryan Miller was sent to the line to sink two.

Guarded tight, Okonak hit a three with 28 seconds left to come within six; however desperation fouls at the end assured the Hounds a 76-69 win on their home court.

Robinson led the game in scoring with 20 points. Three teammates followed him with double figures: Cuff (15), Okonak (14) and Patch (10). Miller led the Hounds with 18 points. 

The top right arc was friendly to the Hounds as they were 5-9 in the second half, while the Crusaders suffered a 22 percent performance from the three-point range.

Susquehanna runs streak to six, remains perfect in Landmark Box Score

TOWSON, Md. – The Susquehanna University men's basketball team was a target for Goucher College, fresh off a win over Juniata College on Saturday. An 11-0 run that tied the game at 18-all midway through Sunday's first half had the Gophers thinking upset for a second straight day.

But Landmark-leading scorer Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) quickly quelled the momentum shift, hitting a three-pointer to give Susquehanna (10-7, 7-0 Landmark Conference) the lead again and for good en route to a 79-62 win. Goucher fell to 5-12, 3-4 in Landmark play while Susquehanna won its sixth straight and seventh conference game.

Robinson led the Crusaders with 25 points and added nine rebounds -- seven defensive -- and three assists. Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) was the everywhere man for Susquehanna with a double-double of 18 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds, along with four assists, a block and three steals. Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) contributed 13 points off the bench.

Gopher freshman Marcus Cotton had his own double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, the first of his career.

Hot Hands in Second Half Lead Crusaders to Fifth Straight Victory Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Susquehanna won for the fifth straight time defeating Catholic University 70-57 at the Dufour Center in Washington, DC.  The Crusaders were led by Kevin Cuff’s (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) hot hand on 6-of-8 (75 percent) shooting in the second half to improve to 6-0 in the Landmark Conference. Susquehanna will face Goucher tomorrow in the second game of the conference double-header.

The Crusaders (9-7, 6-0 LC) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on back-to-back layups from Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg). A pair of free-throws at the 19 minute mark from the Cardinal’s Wes Parker gave Catholic (7-10, 1-5 LC) its first points on the scoreboard. The Crusaders led by as many as eight, before the Cardinals went on a 10-2 run to achieve its first advantage of the game, 15-14 with 13:52 left in the opening half.

The see-saw affair lasted throughout the period as the lead changed hands eight times. The score was knotted at 31 just over a minute left in the half by a trey from CUA’s D.J. Johnston. However, Susquehanna scored the final points of the first stint on a free-throw by Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) and a jumper by Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) to take a 34-31 lead at the break.

Cuff had 11 points hitting 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) from the field, as the team hit on 15-of-29 (51.7 percent) of its attempts. Robinson and Cosgrove both recorded six points. The Crusaders had eight points off of nine Catholic turnovers, and held a 22-12 advantage on points in the paint.

Susquehanna struck first in the opening minute of the second half on a jumper by Cuff and a fast break layup by Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) which ignited a 9-2 run to take a 45-37 lead. The Cardinals cut the lead to six, 48-42, on triple by Brian Baker at the 9:10 mark. The Crusaders then netted 11 baskets, which including consecutive three pointers from Cuff, to give Catholic its largest deficit of the game at 21, 68-47, with just over three minutes left in regulation. Catholic did not have an answer and Susquehanna would never relinquish the double-digit advantage.

Cuff finished with a season-high 28 points on 11-of-15 (73 percent) shooting from the field, including 5-for-8 (63 percent) from behind the arc. Robinson tallied 16 points hitting on 4-of-7 (57 percent) from the floor and 8-for-10 (80 percent) from the charity stripe. Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) chipped in with seven points, while Patch tallied six points, three swipes, and a team-high seven boards. For Catholic, Jason Banzhaf paced the Cardinals with 15 points on 6-for-8 (75 percent) shooting. Baker contributed 10 points.

For the game, Susquehanna went 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) in the second half while shooting 54.2 percent for the game, and assisted on 13-of-26 baskets. Catholic was 40.4 percent from the field (21-for-52) and committed 17 turnovers while falling to 7-10 overall and 1-5 in the Landmark. The Crusaders continue to remain the only undefeated team in conference play.

Susquehanna looks to continue its win streak in the conference when they travel to Goucher for a 4 p.m. tip-off.

SU Wins Fourth Straight, Robinson Leads Crusaders in Double Figures Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – Susquehanna (8-7, 5-0) won for the fourth straight time, defeating Merchant Marine (6-9, 2-3), 76-62 in a Landmark Conference home game. Senior Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) led SU in double figures, scoring a game-high 26 points while also dishing out five assists. Junior Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) and sophomore Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) added 11 points each.

Merchant Marine’s sophomore Max Paul opened the game with a fast break layup, but SU responded with a Robinson trey to take a 3-2 lead. The Crusades kept the lead over the proceeding seven-plus minutes, despite the Mariners knotting the score four times. A successful three-point connection by Merchant Marine’s junior Matt Oaks at the 8:26 mark, gave the Mariners a 19-18 advantage. However, over the next two possessions, the Crusaders scored five unanswered points from traditional three-point plays by Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) and Patch.

In the first half, the Crusaders shot 50 percent from the floor (14-of-28) including 12 by Robinson. He hit on 3-of-6 from three-point land as the team hit on 5-of-16 attempts. SU had 13 assists on 14 first half hoops.

The Crusaders led 38-32 at the break. The orange and maroon defense, meanwhile scored 10 points off eight Mariner turnovers. Merchant Marine attempted only one free throw in the half, while SU was 5-for-5 five.

Susquehanna’s lead was cut to three, 38-35, by a three-point play from Merchant Marine’s Paul in the opening minutes of the second half. The Mariners gained its first advantage since the opening minutes of the game with back-to-back triples from junior Pat Grace and freshman Matt Hueber to put Merchant Marine up by four, 47-43. The Crusaders battled the Mariners over the next six minutes before SU knotted the score at 52. Brad Okonak’s (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) three-point connection at the 7:56 mark ignited an 11-0 run to give the Crusaders its largest lead of the game, 67-56, with just over three minutes left in regulation. Merchant Marine tried to counter the attack with back-to-back layups from Hueber, but SU pulled away in the final minute to cruise to a 76-62 victory.

Susquehanna finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field (21-of-47). Majors and Robinson both dished out five assists apiece, while Majors recorded a game-best five steals. Patch (3), Cosgrove (3), and Hunter McKain (Ligonier, Pa./Shady Side Academy) (3) combined for nine of the team’s 11 blocks. Grace had 17 points to pace the Mariners. Hueber finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Oaks chipped in with 11.

Susquehanna will take to the road for its next two games. They open with a 7:30 p.m. contest at Catholic University on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Crusaders down Drew to move to 4-0 in Landmark Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Home is still sweet home for the Susquehanna University men's basketball team, as it gritted out a 51-42 win over Drew University Friday to remain undefeated in Landmark Conference play.

The Crusaders (7-7, 4-0 Landmark) had their hands full with a physical Rangers (4-10, 1-3 Landmark) squad that played close throughout, pulling within one at 8:38 in the second half. Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) hit a three-pointer 30 seconds later to put the Crusaders up four.

Scoring then lagged in the waning minutes. Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) (right) bombed another three at 6:45, then both teams were scoreless for two minutes. Drew got a Chris Lopez layup to get within five, but Robinson would strike again with his own layup.

In addition to his game-high 25 points, Robinson did his part on defense as well, swatting away two Ranger shots and also notching two steals. Cuff and Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) added eight points apiece for the Crusaders.

Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) led Susquehanna on the boards with seven rebounds and Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) dished out five assists.

The two teams were even with 32 rebounds each. Susquehanna outshot Drew, hitting 40.5 percent to the Rangers' 33.3 percent.

The Crusaders host a second day of Landmark Conference play as they host Merchant Marine Saturday at 4 p.m.

Robinson, Patch, and Okonak Lead Crusaders in Third Straight Conference Victory Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell), Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley), and Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) combined for a total of 59 points to lead Susquehanna (6-7, 3-0) in a 92-81 Landmark Conference home victory over Moravian (10-4, 1-2). The Crusaders won for their second straight game to improve to 3-0 in Landmark play.

The visiting Greyhounds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Crusaders responded by a triple from Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.). Susquehanna led by as many as 24 points with just under 30 seconds before break. A layup by Moravian’s Chris Early with nine seconds to play in the period ended scoring for the half and the Crusaders took a 49-27 advantage heading into the lockerroom.

Okonak would score 12 of his 19 points on 4-of-5 (80 percent) shooting from behind the arc in the first half to lead the Crusaders into the break. Robinson and Cuff both had nine, while Patch added eight. As a team, Susquehanna netted 19-of-32 (59.4 percent) baskets, which included a stellar 7-of-10 (70 percent) performance from behind the three.

Fueled by a Robinson steal and a fast break layup from Patch in the opening three minutes of the second period, SU went on a 7-2 run to achieve its widest margin, 57-29, at the 16:22 mark. The Greyhounds chipped away at the lead and scored 10 unanswered points to cut it to eight, 75-67, with just under 3:30 to play in regulation. However, Moravian would never recover. Two back-to-back authoritative dunks by Patch in the closing minute of play put an exclamation point on the Crusaders’ victory.

For Susquehanna, Robinson finished with a game-best 21 points on 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) shooting from the field. Patch was a perfect 5-of-5 from the charity stripe, and went 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) en route to his season-best 19 points. Off the bench, Okonak was 6-of-9 (66.6 percent) from the field, including 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) from behind the arc for 19 points on the evening. Cuff added 11 points and went 6-for-7 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line. Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) added a career-high 10 assists in 20 minutes of action.

As a team, the Crusaders shot 32-of-58 (55.1 percent) from the field and went 9-for-15 (60 percent) from behind the arc to improve to 6-7 overall and remain undefeated in conference play. Moravian shot 24-of-60 (40 percent) and committed 20 turnovers for the game while falling to 10-4 overall and 1-2 in the Landmark. SU held a 33-30 rebounding edge over the Greyhounds.

The Crusaders are back in action next Friday to face conference opponent Drew at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of a double-header.

Crusaders get back in the win column, defeat Scranton for Marcinek's 250th Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – It was a grand homecoming for the Susquehanna University men's basketball team Friday, as the Crusaders got head coach Frank Marcinek (below left) his 250th career win, and moved to 2-0 in Landmark Conference play.

A 78-70 win over the University of Scranton snapped a five-game losing skid and was the Crusaders' first of the new year. Susquehanna got off to a strong start in the first game of a Landmark doubleheader weekend.

Scranton struck first on a Tom Bicknell layup followed by a free throw. Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) responded with a with a jumper of his own, and the lead would see-saw back and forth from there for much of the first half. The Crusaders carried a seven-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

Second-half play opened with two Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) free throws and a Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) three pointer to extend the Crusader lead to 12. Susquehanna held the lead for good, going up by as many as 17 until Scranton scored a quick six points in the waning moments to cut the final deficit to eight.

Robinson led all scorers with 26 points, followed by Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) (above left) with 19. Cuff chipped in 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) chipped in six assists and four steals.

Bicknell led the Royals with 20 points and a 17 rebounds, while Zach Ashworth added 16 points.

Prior to the game, the Crusaders recognized Cuff for reaching the 1,000-career-point plateau. He had 396 in his first two seasons at Division II Millersville, and his 18 points against Coastal Carolina last Saturday put him at 1,004 total.

He was joined on the court by his parents, Don and Cathy Cuff, and presented with a commemorative game ball.

Crusaders Drop 83-72 Decision to Division-I Coastal Carolina Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. – The Susquehanna University men’s basketball team fell to 4-7 overall with a 83-72 loss on the road to Division-I opponent Coastal Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Kimbel Arena. The Crusaders return to action Friday night in Landmark play against Scranton beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Robinson led all SU scorers with 20 points, while Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) followed with 18 points on 7-of-14 (50 percent) shooting from the field. Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) contributed 12 points, and Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) chipped in with eight. Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) recorded seven points, six assists, and two steals in a season-high 39 minutes of action.

Coastal Carolina (7-6) scored the first two points of the game, and Susquehanna (4-7) responded two possessions later with a steal and fast break layup by Robinson to tie the score 2-2. The two teams exchanged baskets, and the Crusaders kept it close, knotting the score at 4-4, 7-7, 14-14, and trailed by just one, 23-22 before a jumper by Cuff gave SU a 23-24 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the first period. However, the Chanticleers went on an 11-3 run in the final 4:15 to close out the half and head into intermission with a 35-27 advantage.

Robinson and Cuff each had eight points in the half for SU. Patch added four rebounds to lead the Crusaders. SU had five assists before the break and forced 13 turnovers while committing only five. They hit on 10-of-30 (33.3 percent) shots from the field and 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

In the second half, Coastal went on a 19-2 run to build its largest lead of the game at 54-35 with 15:03 to play in the game. The Crusaders stopped the run by a steal from Majors, who passed it ahead for a Cuff fast break layup.

SU cut it to eight at 78-70 with 2:13 to play in the remaining period on a triple by Robinson, his 20th point of the game. The Crusaders would get no closer than that as a pair of free-throws by the Chanticleers with eight seconds on the clock sealed the win for the home team. Coastal Carolina finished the game making 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) from the line, while SU finished 7-for-7 in the second half and 12-for-17 (70.6 percent) for the game.

For Coastal, Everage Richardson paced the Chanticleers with game-high 27 points. Phil Wallance and Jack Leasure contributed 17 and 13 points, respectively.

First half deficit too much to overcome as Crusaders fall to Monarchs Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – A hot first half by host King's College led to a 94-71 loss for the Susquehanna University men's basketball team in the consolation game of the Ramada Inn/Monarch Classic Wednesday.

The Crusaders outscored the Monarchs in the second half, 40-33, but it was not enough to overcome a 24-point halftime deficit. King's had two players with 20-plus points and bombed 12 three-pointers. Susquehanna Coach Frank Marcinek emptied his bench as each Crusader player saw at least four minutes on the floor.

Susquehanna was led by Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) and Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell), who each scored 15 points. The Crusaders outrebounded the Monarchs, 38-31, led by Joel Patch's (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) six boards.

Cuff also was named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Crusaders head into the holiday break at 4-6 overall. They will open up play in 2008 at Division I Coastal Carolina on Jan. 5.

Crusaders Edged by Blazers, 75-70, in Opening Round of Tourney Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, MD – Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) recorded his fourth double-double of the season as SU (4-5, 1-0 Landmark) was edged by Hood College (7-3) on the road Tuesday night in the opening round of the Ramada Inn/Monarch Classic hosted by King's College.  The Crusaders will play in the consolation game on Wednesday Dec. 19 against King's College. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

The Crusaders took an early 8-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game, before a free-throw by Hood put the Blazers on the scoreboard. Capped by a Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) layup with just over six minutes to play in the half, SU achieved its largest 23-11, at the 6:04 mark. However, Hood notched a 12-2 run in the final 3:23 minutes to end the period and cut the double digit deficit to three, 30-27.

SU started the second with an 8-0 scoring run to increase its advantage, 38-30 in the opening two minutes of the second half. The Crusaders led by as much as 11 at the 7:42 mark when the Blazers started to chip away at the lead. The score was eventually knotted 64-64 with just over two minutes left in regulation.

Hood, who gained its first lead of the entire game at the 1:33 mark on a three-point play by Ryan Junghans, never looked back. The Crusaders, who started off hitting 14-of-28 (50 percent) from the field in the first period, endured a time span of 5:23 in the second half without a successful connection.

For the game, the Crusaders shot 30-of-62 (48.4 percent) from the field, including 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) from behind the arc. SU led on the boards, 38-23. However, the Blazers scored 24 points off of 18 Crusader turnovers.

Cuff paced the Crusaders with 23 points on 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) shooting from the field. Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) tallied 12 points. Andy Gaebel (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) and Patch each contributed 11 points apiece.

For the Blazers, Jesse Gutekunst finished with 23 points, while Junghans had 22. Anthony Bennett chipped in with 12 points

Susquehanna drops close one to local rival, Lycoming Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT, PA -- On Saturday Susquehanna (4-4) fell to the Warriors of Lycoming College (5-3) 68-73 at Lamade Gymnasium.

The Warriors worked to keep a steady lead throughout the first half, five points being the largest gap, to enter intermission with a slight 35-33 advantage. Susquehanna fought to knot the game on five separate occasions amidst the foul-heavy game; however it was not enough to earn a respectable lead.

With 5:15 left of the depleting clock, Lycoming’s David Wilson hit a three-pointer to give the Warriors their first double-digit lead of the contest at 63-53. Susquehanna battled back as a three from senior Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) at 2:41 made it a 67-66 one-point game. The Crusaders remained close, but Lycoming would outscore Susquehanna 6-2 in the final minute to secure the win.

Robinson sunk a game-high 22 points, as Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) and Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) finished with 14 and 12 points respectively. Meanwhile, five Warriors scored in double digits in the physical game. Eric Anthony led the Warriors with 16 points, followed closely by Wilson with 14, Greg Sye and Will Kelly with 12 and Kevin Morris closing out the top five tallying 11 points.

The Crusaders were haunted by a 50 percent performance at the charity stripe shooting 18-36, while Lycoming shot 80 percent completing 25 of 29. Overall Susquehanna shot 50 percent from the field while Lycoming was 45 percent successful.

Crusaders fall to Misericordia Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA – The SU men’s basketball team fell to Misericordia, 73-68, Thursday night at O.W. Houts Gymnasium. Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) recorded his second straight double-double, and third on the season, finishing with 11 points and game-best 11 rebounds. The Crusaders are back in action on Saturday Dec. 8 at Lycoming for a 1 p.m. tip-off.

The Crusaders jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening two minutes of play before Misericordia’s senior Matt Hornak hit a jumper to put the Cougars on the scoreboard. Misercordia grabbed its first lead of the half by a layup from sophomore Dom Del Prete with just over 16 minutes remaining. Although the Crusaders knotted the score four times in the opening half, the lead never changed hands.

Misercordia achieved its biggest lead, 25-34, from a 3-pointer by Hornak. Sparked by a triple from senior Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon), the Crusaders went on a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to one, 37-38, before heading in the lockerroom.

For the first half, the Crusaders shot 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the field and 6-of-10 (60 percent) from behind the arc. Brad Okanak led the Crusaders with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting (75 percent) from three point land. Senior Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) had eight points, while classmate Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) was one point shy with seven.

SU stormed out the lockerroom to snatch their first advantage of the game, 39-38, in the opening two minutes of the second-half. A foul by the Crusaders at the 13:32 mark would put the Cougars in a penalty situation for the remainder of the half.

The score was tied 66-66 with just over six minutes remaining in regulation before Mesericordia’s senior Ryan Roa would put them ahead by three. The Cougars achieved their largest lead of the second half, 66-72, with less than 30 seconds remaining from two free throws by junior Vinny Baumuk. The Crusaders responded with a layup from junior Todd Denapoli (Dunellen, N.J./Dunellen) on the following possession. Still a two possession game, the Crusaders quickly called a timeout. A full court press would force a Cougar turnover, and a SU recovery by sophomore Marcus Burke (Hyde Park, Mass./Brimmer and May). However, a missed three pointer by Okanak with seven seconds on the clock ended SU’s shot at a victory.

For the game, SU committed 21 fouls, as opposed to Misericordia’s eight. However, Susqueuhanna held the advantage on the boards, 32-28. The Crusaders placed four players in double figures. Cuff finished with 19 points, while Robinson had 12. Patch and Okonak each finished with 11 points apiece.

Misercordia’s Baumunk finished with a game-high 21 points. Roa finished with 14 points and five assists. Sophomore Marcus Little and teammate Prete had 10 and 11 points, respectively.

SU takes to the road again on Saturday Dec. 8 to face Lycoming. The game is slated for 1 p.m.

Crusaders edge Eagles in Landmark opener - Box Score

HUNTINGDON, PA – The Susquehanna Crusaders (4-2, 1-0 Landmark) placed three players in double figures as they held on to the lead late in the game to edge the Juniata Eagles in the Landmark Conference opener on Saturday night.

The Crusaders were paced by senior Kevin Cuff’s (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) 22 points on 6-of-12 (50 percent) shooting. Senior Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) finished with 21 points on 5-of-11 (45 percent) shooting, along with a 10-of-12 (83 percent) performance from the charity stripe. Junior Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) notched his first double-double of the season chipping in with 12 points and grabbing 11 boards.

Juniata (3-3, 1-0 Landmark) held a 39-35 advantage at the half, thanks largely to a perfect 5-of-5 effort behind the arc by Eagle senior guard Kyle Opitz. The decisive second half was a see-saw affair that saw three ties and three lead changes. Juniata held a three-point lead as late as the 1:22 mark of the second period, following a jumper by senior Brian Cannon. However a pair of back-to-back triples by Cuff knotted the game at 69-69 with 1:12 to play, and then allowed the Crusaders to take the lead with just 31 seconds on the clock.

A layup by Juniata’s senior Kyle Opitz with 14 seconds remaining in regulation cut the deficit to one point, 72-71, but Robinson hit a pair of free throws with just under 10 seconds to play to seal the win. A last-ditch three-point attempt by the Eagles was off the mark and rebounded by Cuff, who was promptly fouled by Juniata’s senior Brent Ferko. Cuff drained the second of his two foul shots, to close out the scoring.

The Crusaders second-half comeback effort was fueled by 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) shooting, including a 5-of-8 mark from beyond the arc.

For Juniata, Opitz finished with a game-high 24 points, while Cannon finished with 18 points. Juniata shot .400 (28-70) from the field, but were held to just .350 (14-40) shooting in the second half.

Susquehanna falls in the final second of OT to Wilkes Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, PA -- A good Wilkes layup with 0.2 seconds of overtime remaining would lead to an ecstatic hometown crowd and long bus trip home for the Crusaders.

With the game knotted on 14 separate occasions, Susquehanna's largest lead being eight and the Colonels' five, the stats speak for themselves; it was a neck-in-neck game on Wednesday night in the Marts Center.

For the first eight and the final seven minutes of the first half, the scoreboard favored the visiting Crusaders who held a 33-29 advantage at the half.

The second half could be described as the heart of a physically intense game. Thirty-five personal fouls were committed and 46 charity shots were taken in the midst of the second 20-minute stint.

Down by five, Susquehanna would use 10 straight points by Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) to take a 58-53 lead with 5:19 to play in the second half. Wilkes responded by out-scoring the Crusaders 7-2 in the final 2:43 minutes to force the additional period. It was a drive by Wilkes' Chris Gulla with one-second lingering in regulation that tied the game at 65 to send the Crusaders into their third OT game of the season.

In the extra session Susquehanna took a 67-65 lead at the 3:31 mark when Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) scored off an assist from Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon). Wilkes would tie the game when John Defeo grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it 67-67. Defeo was fouled on the next possession for the Colonels and converted a pair of free throws with 2:40 left.

Wilkes would sink two additional free throws before Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) drilled a three-pointer with 1:04 left to cut the deficit to one. After Matt Gould hit one-of-two free throws with 35 seconds remaining to make it a 72-70 game, Hunter McKain (Ligonier, Pa./Shady Side Academy) scored inside with 19 seconds left to tie the game at 72 each. 

Wilkes dwindled the last seconds of time getting the ball into Steve Kline who got a shot off in the paint to put the Colonels on top 74-72 with less than a second left. Susquehanna was unable to get a shot off in the final tenths of a second enabling the Colonels to remain undefeated. 

For the Crusaders Robinson lead the game with 22 points followed by Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) with 12 and Cuff recording his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Patch also tallied 9 points and 11 boards for the orange and maroon.

Wilkes, who had five players score twin-figures, was led by Gulla with 19 points.

The Crusaders (3-2) were 41.5 percent from the field, 36 percent from beyond the arch and 79.2 percent from the line compared to the Colonels' (3-0) 36.8, 15.4 and 71.4 percent respectively.

Susquehanna beats Haverford in OT, Robinson named to All-Tourney Team Box Score

PITTSBURGH, PA -- After a back-and-forth battle in regulation, the Susquehanna University men's basketball team outscored Haverford by seven in overtime to win the consolation match of the Radisson/Carnegie Mellon Tournament, 66-59.

The Crusaders held a slim lead at halftime, heading to the locker rooms up 24-23. The Fords would hang just one extra point on Susquehanna in the second half, but that was enough to send the game to overtime.

Haverford got off to a hot start in the overtime period on two Ben McDowell free throws, but Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) answered with a quick three-pointer to give the Crusaders a lead they would hold to the end.

Robinson led the Crusaders in scoring with 25 points to earn All-Tournament Team honors. Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) had a double-double as he vacuumed up 15 rebounds and chipped in 12 points.

Crusaders fall to Polar Bears 70-59 at Carnegie Mellon Tournament Box score

PITTSBURGH, PA -- On Saturday the Susquehanna Men's Basketball team fell 70-59 in the first round of play at the Carnegie Mellon Tournament to the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University.

The Crusaders made a strong start, holding the lead for the first nine minutes of action; however at 10:43 Ohio Northern would take the lead for the remainder of the game. Northern closed out the first half making a 10-2 run to take a 40-28 advantage into intermission.

ONU led 44-29 with 18:29 left and still had a comfortable 56-45 lead after a good layup with 10:05 left to play. But the Crusaders would score the game’s next 10 points to pull within one.

With less than eight minutes left in the game, Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) hit the first of two foul shots to bring Susquehanna within one point (56-55) of the Polar Bears, but it was not enough to put them ahead. ONU hit two consecutive three pointers leading them to outscore the Crusaders 14-4 in the final minutes.

Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) led the game in scoring with 19; Cuff followed closely recording a 14-point, 10 rebound double-double.

ONU made 24-of-53 field goals for 45.3 percent, while holding the Crusaders to 39.3 percent shooting on 22-of-56 attempts.

The Polar Bears (2-1) will face host Carnegie Mellon (2-1) in the championship game Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The Tartans defeated Haverford 73-59 in the other first round game on Saturday.

Crusaders wear down Eagles to take Tip-Off Tourney Box score

SELINSGROVE, PA-- For the first half of play, it looked as if the Susquehanna men's basketball team might have been worn out from its overtime game with Kean the night before. But the Crusaders took a three-point lead to the locker room, then came out firing to put Mary Washington away and take the championship of the 2007 Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tourney, 86-62.

The Eagles struck first on an Eric Pearson layup, then stormed to a 12-point lead in the first seven minutes of play. Susquehanna chipped away at the lead thanks to a Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) layup and free throw, and Josh Robinson's (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) (left) trey and two free throws. Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) then added a three of his own to cut the Eagle lead to one.

The game would then see-saw as Mary Washington would pull ahead and Susquehanna would knot things up, just to see the Eagles respond again. The Crusaders would finally take a lead with 4:46 left in the half on a Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) three-pointer.

Susquehanna built up a quick 10-point lead with just two minutes to go but the Eagles whittled away at it as Justin Baker hit a jumper and a three-pointer and Eric Rolander added a layup to make it 40-37 at the half.

Both teams came out cold in the second half, missing a combined six shots before Sean Ulichny (Mendham, N.J./Mendham) hit a layup. Patch and Matt Hale then traded jumpers before Hunter McKain (Ligonier, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and Andy Gaebel (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) hit layups in quick succession to extend the Crusader lead to nine. It was a lead Susquehanna would not relinquish, as Mary Washington would get no closer the rest of the game.

The Crusaders were lead by Robinson's game-high 24 points, including four treys. Gaebel had 16 points while Cuff added 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. For the Eagles, Hale had 23 points followed by Baker's 18.

Hale and Baker represented Mary Washington on the All-Tournament Team, while Susquehanna's Patch and Cuff were honored along with Tournament MVP Robinson. This is the second-straight year that Robinson has been named MVP and the Crusaders have taken the team championship. They have won eight overall.

Men's basketball edges Kean University in overtime thriller Box Score

SELINSGROVE, PA-- In a game with nine lead changes, the Susquehanna University Crusaders (1-0) defeated the Kean University Cougars (0-1) in an overtime thriller in the opening round of the Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off tournament at O.W. Houts Gymnasium on Friday night. The Crusaders are back in action Saturday, Nov. 17 where they will face Mary Washington (1-0) in the championship game at 3 p.m.

The Crusaders were paced by junior Josh Robinson’s (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) team-high 20 points and seven assists. Senior Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) shot 7-for-12 from the field for 19 points on the night.

The Crusaders and Cougars exchanged baskets throughout the half, tying the score six times. Ignited by a triple from senior Andy Gaebel (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) with just five minutes to play in the first period, Susquehanna went on a 13-5 run and would go into the locker room ahead at the half 41-32.

Kean University opened the half with a 17-7 run, making the score 51-48 to take the lead of the game with just less than 15 minutes to play in regulation. Susquehanna responded by going on a 12-5 run to retake the lead (60-59) at the 8:10 mark. Kean would put itself ahead again from a free-throw shot by sophomore Akinwande Oshodi.

With just about a minute to play in regulation, Cuff shot a three-pointer to tie the score 75-75. On the following possession, Kean’s freshman Dean Hughes attempted to win the game, but his jumper was unsuccessful and Susquehanna’s Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) grabbed the rebound. The Crusaders would have an attempt at the win but Cuff’s jumper from the left corner bounced off the rim into Cougar hands who then called a quick time-out with one second remaining. The Cougars took the ball out of bounds under Susquehanna’s basket and threw a long pass down the court that was intercepted by Okonak as time expired.

Highlighted by a jumper from Robinson, the Crusaders jumped out to a 77-75 lead in overtime and never looked back. Susquehanna outscored Kean 12-5 to defeat the Cougars 87-80.

As a team, Susquehanna shot 77 percent from the free-throw line. Individually, Robinson shot 13-for-14 from the charity stripe, while Okonak and sophomore point-guard Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) went a perfect 5-for-5 and 4-for-4, respectively.

The Crusaders placed four players in double figures. Robinson contributed a team-high 20 points. Cuff went 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from behind the arc for a total of 19 points on the night. Okonak had 14 points in 27 minutes. Junior Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) had 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting and grabbed a team-high seven boards and four steals. Gaebel also chipped in with eight points, while Majors had seven points and five assists.

Kean shot 51 percent from the field and 54 percent from three-point land. The Cougars were led by freshman Keith William’s game-high 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 performance from behind the arc. Senior Lamar Wright contributed 26 points shooting 11-18 from the field and 3-6 from the three-point.