Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Marquis Frias, Sports Editor
The No. 6 seed Susquehanna Men’s Basketball Team clinched their spot in the Landmark Conference Championship after a 93-87 upset win at No.2 Drew University Thursday night.
First-year guard Mikey Cumbo gave his biggest performance of the season with 24 points, shooting 5-6 from the field and sinking all 13 of his free throws.
The win gives Susquehanna their seventh Landmark Conference Championship appearance in program history and their first since 2023 where they finished as runner-ups to Catholic.
“It means everything,” senior forward Brandon Lavitt said. “It was a great game with a really fun environment between really two really good teams.”
The first half began with Susquehanna getting off to a blazing hot start. Just eight minutes into the first, the River Hawks held a 21-8 lead over the Rangers. This hot start was crucial for the River Hawks, as it was the catalyst to them holding the lead for the remainder of the first half.
The Rangers eventually fought back in the first, however, managing to close the lead to only three points after a quick 10-0 run. Susquehanna didn’t let this discourage them though, as they continued to play sharp offensively while containing Drew’s offense.
“We knew we wanted to keep our bigs on their bigs as much as we could. By doing that and not switching as much, we had great matchups most of the night and were able to out rebound them,” Lavitt said.
The big start defensively gave the River Hawks a 46-40 lead at halftime. Senior center Billy Anderson led the way with nine points for the River Hawks in the first half, with senior guard Jackson Van Wagener and junior guard Mario Castro Sanchez following with eight points each.
The second half was a bit more closer then the first, as Drew was quick to close the gap, tying the game at 55 apiece just five minutes into the second. The game remained close, with Susquehanna trying to stretch their lead and Drew doing everything in their power to not fall behind.
After a layup from Drew sophomore Ben Manns cut the lead to only one for Susquehanna, the River Hawks went on a 12-2 run late in the second to stretch their lead to 87-76. This late run was the turning point in the game, as Susquehanna was able to take all the momentum out of Baldwin Gymnasium.
A couple late buckets by Drew made the end result a little closer, but the River Hawks were able to hold on to win 93-87.
Cumbo led the way with his 24 points, while four other River Hawks finished with double-digit point totals. Castro Sanchez scored 19 points, Van Wagener finished with 13, while Anderson and first-year guard KJ Carson finished with 11 apiece.
“The biggest takeaway from the game last night was the number of guys we had step up,” Lavitt said. Guys like Billy, Mikey, Seamus and AJ really stepped up for us off the bench. That really made all of the difference.”
The River Hawks were also able to avenge their second round loss at Drew just a year ago, a rivalry that runs deep for many current River Hawks.
“This group of seniors have been through so many ups and downs throughout our career. Many of those ups and downs have been in that gym in Madison, N.J.,” Lavitt said. “With all of our experience playing there, I turned to Coach Marcinek in the locker room before the game and told him this almost feels like a home game.”
Susquehanna will now prepare for the Landmark Conference Championship where they will face a familiar foe in Wilkes. The River Hawks swept the Colonels in the regular season, first defeating them 75-72 back in December and most recently beating Wilkes 78-59 Feb 7. Susquehanna will look to complete the trifecta, but this time for the Landmark Conference Championship and an appearence in NCAA DIII Playoffs
“We have worked so hard to get back to the championship after my sophomore year and now it is time to just enjoy the moment,” Lavitt said. “ Sacrificing yourself for the greater good of the team is not easy, but our guys have really been buying into that.”
The River Hawks will compete for their third Landmark Conference Championship when they take on No.4 seed Wilkes on Saturday, Feb 28 at 7 p.m. at Wilkes-Barre, PA.