BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's basketball team scored the final four points including a pair of free throws by senior guard Sean Hanna with 15.3 seconds remaining as the Greyhounds knocked off No. 11 Susquehanna University, 80-77, in Landmark Conference action Saturday afternoon.
The Hounds improve to 13-6 overall with their fourth straight win, and Moravian moves into a three-way tie for first in the Landmark Conference standings with six regular season games to play. The victory for Greyhounds was the program's first over a nationally-ranked team since an 88-82 win at then-No. 24 Wilkes University on December 1, 2001. Moravian's last victory over a nationally-ranked squad in Johnston Hall was a 104-96 win over then-No. 1 Wilkes on February 3, 2001.
"I thought it was a really well played game," stated Head Coach Justin Potts. "I have a lot of respect for Head Coach Frank Marcinek and his program. They have been very successful during his time there and especially the last two years. I thought our guys stayed with things today. We talked about playing 40 minutes, and I think we got close to that today. Without looking at the film, I'd say we were at 37 minutes. I knew a game like that with two good teams would come down to a possession here and there. Our seniors made some big plays in big moments with Isaiah stepping to the line and making a free throw and Sean making two big ones at the end to make it a three-point lead. I give the credit to our guys. They've stayed with the process and worked really hard, and I'm happy for them and the program."
Both coaching staffs also participated in the American Cancer Society and National Association of Basketball Coaches's Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Saturday. Moravian is donating all the proceeds from ticket sales for both games of the doubleheader to the Throat Cancer Foundation.
Moravian had three players finish in double figures with sophomore guard Jimmy Murray netting a game-high 21 points to go with three assists and a pair of blocked shots. Hanna and senior forward Brandon McGuire both scored 16 points with Hanna adding five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals while McGuire contributed six rebounds and four assists. The trio was 10-for-10 at the foul line in the game as Moravian shot 12-of-15, and Hanna was 7-for-7 including his two clinching free throws late. McGuire moved up to 13th in school history in scoring with 1,171 points, and he is seventh all-time at Moravian with 671 rebounds.
Freshman forward John Hargraves had six points, three blocked shots and a pair of rebounds for the Blue and Grey while senior guard Isaiah Jennings had five points and two assists. Sophomore forward Oneil Holder, sophomore guard Will Brazukas, freshman guard Mike Martino, freshman guard C.J. Barnes and sophomore forward Jake McGee all hit one three-pointer in the game as Moravian was 12-for-27 beyond the arc. Brazukas and McGee each had two assists while sophomore guard Nicholas Casazza made one free throw.
The River Hawks scored off of the opening tip for a quick lead before McGuire answered with a three-pointer for the first of 14 lead changes in the first half. Moravian led 8-4 after a three-point play by Murray but Susquehanna answered with an 8-0 run to move ahead 12-8 with 16 minutes left in the opening half. The Greyhounds moved back in front, 16-15 on a Murray jumper two and a half minutes later only to see the River Hawks go on a 13-2 run to move ahead 28-18 with 9:30 until the intermission.
Murray hit two three-pointers sandwiched around one from Hanna as the Blue and Grey pulled within a point, 28-27, and the Hounds retook the lead at 3-32 on a three-pointer by Barnes with 6:23 before the intermission. The teams traded the lead seven more times before Susquehanna headed to the locker room with a 43-41 advantage after a late three-pointer before the half ended.
Hanna hit two free throws to begin the second half, knotting the score at 43-43, and Hanna gave the Hounds a 48-44 lead with a lay-up at the 18:28 mark. Susquehanna moved back ahead, 53-52, with a three-pointer at 15:02, and the River Hawks would extend that lead to 68-58, with another three-pointer as 10:16 still remained on the clock.
Murray added two more three-pointers while one from Brazukas and a traditional three-point play from Hanna tied the score at 70-70 with 6:52 still to play. Neither team scored for the next two minutes before Susquehanna hit a free throw. Murray hit a jumper for a 72-71 Moravian lead but the River Hawks eventually moved ahead, 77-76 on a lay-up at the 1:49 mark.
McGuire hit a reverse lay-up on a feed from Hanna on the Greyhounds next possession as Moravian moved ahead 78-77. Both teams missed shots on their next possession before the Greyhounds gained possession on a turnover, one of 13 they forced in the victory. Hanna ended up with the ball after the turnover and was fouled. He connected on both free throws for the three-point lead as Moravian forced a turnover and a missed three-pointer in the final seconds.
Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, February 1 when the squad finishes a four-game home stand in a Landmark Conference contest versus The University of Scranton tipping off at 7:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall.
