Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Abrielle Tutino
The Susquehanna River Hawks men’s basketball team closed out their trip to Puerto Rico with a split against two nationally respected opponents, showing resilience in a loss against No. 6 University of Chicago before earning a statement win over No. 23 Johns Hopkins.
The win over ranked Johns Hopkins was the first win for the River Hawks over a ranked opponent since 2023.
Susquehanna (7-3 overall, 3-1 conference) battled throughout its matchup with Chicago on Wednesday, staying within reach for much of the night before the Maroons (9-1) pulled away late for an 87–69 decision.
The River Hawks leaned on disciplined offense early, using screens to create space and control tempo against one of the nation’s top defensive units.
“Coming into the game we knew they were a good defensive team, and we had to use the screens so we could get open,” said Junior guard Mario Castro Sanchez. “We were also focusing on running our offense and trying to play at our own pace even if they wanted to speed us up.”
Susquehanna put together a strong opening half, but momentum shifted after the break as Chicago caught fire from the perimeter. The River Hawks adjusted by attacking the rim and looking to generate stops on the defensive end.
“After they went on a run scoring some threes we were trying to get stops and then get the best looks possible in offense,” Castro Sanchez said. “Me personally I tried to drive hard to the basket and draw fouls as they were guarding one-on-one without much help.”
Castro Sanchez finished as SU’s leading scorer with 20 points, while also grabbing six boards. Senior Billy Anderson also contributed with 16 points while shooting 6-11 from the field.
Despite the loss, the River Hawks carried that competitive edge into their final game of the trip, responding with a 66–60 victory over Johns Hopkins (7-2) on Friday to close out their Puerto Rico stay.
After claiming a 29-26 lead heading into the break, the two teams would combine for 75 points in what would be an entertaining second half.
Up two with less than a minute left, Senior guard Jackson Van Wagener would hit a clutch layup to put the River Hawks up 59-55.
Four late free throws from Castro Sanchez and a layup from Senior Audric Washington would be the dagger for the River Hawks as they were able to escape with the win.
The win marked a key moment early in the season, as the River Hawks claimed their first win over a ranked opponent since 2023.
Castro Sanchez led Susquehanna scoring again, this time dropping 17 points, with Van Wagener and first-year guard KJ Carson also totaling 11 points each.
“It was exciting,” Carson said. “It was an excellent experience for me because it was my first time playing outside of the country and it felt good to contribute to a big team win.”
Beyond the results, the trip provided an opportunity for growth off the court as well, strengthening team chemistry through travel and competition.
“We’ve learned a lot about ourselves as a team and the culture we have to bring to win games,” Carson said. “We have a close group of guys that get along well together, and you can definitely see that connection on the court.”
The River Hawks will travel next to Glenside, PA to take on Arcadia University on Saturday, January 3 at 12:00 p.m.