Feb 23, 2008

Balanced Attack Helps Crusaders Claim Top Seed

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 12 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 out 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 earned the No. 1 seed and will host the No. 4 seed Juniata again in the semi-final game of the Landmark Conference playoffs on Wednesday Feb. 27 at O.W. Houts Gymnasium. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m.


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