2008-09 Game Summaries

Nov. 16 (White Rose City Classic championship game): Susquehanna 59, Neumann 57
Nov. 15 (White Rose City Classic first round): Susquehanna 76, Misericordia 67

Nov. 16 (White Rose City Classic championship game): Susquehanna 59, Neumann 57 Box Score

YORK, Pa. — Susquehanna University's sophomore forward Hunter McKain (Ligonier, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and senior guard Matt McDevitt (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) both made one free throw in the last 12 seconds, and Neumann College missed a three-pointer with one second remaining to give Susquehanna a 59–57 non-conference win in the championship game of the White Rose City Classic at the York College of Pennsylvania's Charles Wolf Gymnasium on Nov. 16.

McKain grabbed a defensive rebound with 34 seconds left in a tie game following a missed Neumann (1–1 overall) three-pointer. McDevitt was then fouled with 12 seconds remaining and hit the first of two free throws for the first Susquehanna (2–0 overall) lead of the game. He missed the second, but McKain was there for another important rebound. McKain was fouled immediately and went to the line where he also made the first of two. His second was off-the-mark, which gave the Knights their shot at the last-second win, though it was not to be.

McKain registered a double-double of 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. He also posted one assist, one block and one steal. McDevitt also scored 11 points and added seven rebounds, three assists and a steal.

SU's senior guard/forward Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) scored a team-high 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and picked up an assist and a block.

Junior guard Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) dished out a team-high four assists and made a team-high three steals. Majors also scored five points and pulled down a rebound.

Senior guard Zac Smith (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) made the only two three-pointers for the Crusaders as part of an eight-point day. Smith also registered two boards, two assists and a steal.

Sophomore center Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) also scored eight points and added five rebounds and a block.

Neumann led, 34–23, at the half and matched that 11-point lead with a 51–40 advantage with 9 minutes, 27 seconds left in the second half before Susquehanna took a timeout. Following the break, SU went on a 12–2 run to draw the game to 53–52 with 4:53 to play.

The action went back-and-forth from there until McKain tied the game at 55–55 on a layup with 3:13 left. Neumann made two free throws on the ensuing possession, but Patch responded with a layup to tie it again with just 2:30 to play.

Neither team could find the basket again until McDevitt's game-winning free throw and McKain's heroics to end it.

Susquehanna held a decided advantage in rebounds, 48–29.

Nov. 15 (White Rose City Classic first round): Susquehanna 76, Misericordia 67 Box Score

YORK, Pa. — Senior guard/forward Joel Patch (Conklin, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) posted a double-double of 21 points and a game-high 11 rebounds while shooting an impressive 64.3 percent from the floor to help lead Susquehanna University to a 76–67 non-conference win over Misericordia University in the first round of the White Rose City Classic at the York College of Pennsylvania's Charles Wolf Gymnasium on Nov. 15.

Susquehanna (1–0 overall) and Misericordia (0–1 overall) are both opening their 2008–09 seasons in the four-team White Rose tournament.

SU's freshman guard Spenser Spencer (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) also poured in 21 points in his first collegiate game to tie Patch for the game high. Patch and Spencer both dished out two assists, and Spencer grabbed three rebounds and a steal. Spencer shot 53.9 percent from the floor, including making a game-high four three-pointers, and sunk all three of his free-throw attempts.

Sophomore forward Hunter McKain (Ligonier, Pa./Shady Side Academy) blocked a game-high six shots and was the other Susquehanna player in double figures in points with 14. McKain added six rebounds and two assists.

Senior guard Matt McDevitt (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) handed out a game-high six assists and made a game-high three steals for the Crusaders. McDevitt also scored four points and posted four rebounds.

Sophomore center Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) did a little bit of everything as he scored six points, pulled down four rebounds, handed out two assists and picked up a steal and a block.

Misericordia led by as many as nine points in the first half, but Susquehanna kept battling back and even took a 33–31 lead into halftime.

The game was tied at 45–45 with 13 minutes, 16 seconds remaining in the second half, and play went back-and-forth from there. Susquehanna began to pull away with the game with an eight-point lead with 7:56 remaining when Spencer hit a three-pointer and McKain made a jumper with 8:35 and 7:56 remaining, respectively.

The lead dwindled to just two for Susquehanna twice in the second half, the last time with just 3:14 left when a Cougars player hit a layup after a steal. Misericordia made another quick steal following that layup but missed a jumper that would have tied the game again. SU came right back down the floor where McKain hit a big three-pointer for a five-point cushion, 68–63.

Misericordia scored next with two free throws to get within one possession at 68–65, but Patch put thoughts of a late comeback to rest when he finished McDevitt's assist with a bucket and a free throw that pushed the lead out to six, 71–65.

Misericordia missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and was forced to start fouling to get back in the game. Spencer then made two free throws to balloon the lead to 73–65 and essentially put the game out of reach with only 48 seconds left.

Following a Cougars layup, Patch slammed home a dunk and hit a free throw with 21 and 13 seconds left, respectively, to provide the final margin. The 76–67 final score made for Susquehanna's biggest lead of the game.

Susquehanna held a 40-34 edge in rebounds.