Photos Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Abrielle Tutino
The Susquehanna men’s basketball dropped a hard fought 77-72 decision to Elizabethtown on Friday night in Landmark Conference action at O.W. Houts Gymnasium.
The River Hawks remained competitive throughout the contest and were led by a career night from senior Brandon Lavitt, who scored a career-high 30 points.
The opening half featured back and forth play as both teams looked to establish rhythm.
Elizabethtown used efficient perimeter shooting to maintain a narrow edge, while Susquehanna struggled to consistently take advantage of its size inside.
Blue Jays guard Austin Finarelli, who entered the game as the conference’s second leading scorer averaging 21.2 points, also kept the River Hawks on their heels in the first half. Finarelli led all scorers in the first half with 17 points and made eight of his 11 field goals.
Despite that, the River Hawks stayed within striking distance, keeping the game close only down 34-23 entering the locker rooms.
Coming out of the break, Susquehanna made noticeable adjustments. The River Hawks shifted their focus to attacking the paint, creating higher percentage scoring chances and forcing Elizabethtown to defend inside.
Lavitt was central to that effort, scoring from a variety of spots and benefiting from strong ball movement.
“Most of my buckets came off of good passes from teammates which set me up for success,” Lavitt said.
Defensively, Susquehanna generated more stops against the Blue Jays in the second half, allowing them to play with increased pace and energy.
That momentum helped the River Hawks chip away at the deficit and put pressure on Elizabethtown during the closing minutes.
Lavitt emphasized the team’s adjustment, saying the group “went inside more and took advantage of our size” while also getting out in transition.
With three minutes left, Susquehanna gained its first lead of the game when Lavitt sunk two free throws, putting the River Hawks up 61-59.
Despite the Susquehanna comeback, Elizabethtown responded with timely execution late, converting clutch shots and free throws to maintain its lead down the stretch. Susquehanna continued to battle until the final seconds but was unable to fully close the gap.
Lavitt finished his career night with 30 points and eight rebounds, while also sinking 11 of his 12 free-throws. Jackson Van-Wagener also added in 15 points, with Audric Washington dropping 12 points and eight rebounds.
Meanwhile for Elizabethtown, Finarelli finished his night with 30 points as well to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Despite the loss, the River Hawks showed resilience and growth, particularly in the second half. Lavitt’s performance stood out not only for the scoring total but for how it fit within the team’s approach.
“All I really want and care about is for this team to win games,” Lavitt said, reflecting the mindset that continues to drive Susquehanna as the season progresses.
The River Hawks will look to carry their second half energy when they take on Juniata on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7:00 pm in Huntingdon, PA.