BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Moravian College men's basketball team took Landmark Conference rival Susquehanna University (12-8, 6-4 Landmark) down to the wire, but came out victorious, 68-64. Junior guard D.J. Strayhorn led the Greyhounds (12-9, 7-3 Landmark) with 18 points and four assists.

Junior guard Garrett Johnson would get the Greyhounds on the board first, but sophomore guard Mike Perillo answered right back with a bucket of his own. Senior guard Spenser Spencer would hit a three-pointer from the corner to put the Crusaders up 5-2, two minutes in.

After three quick passes, Johnson would finish off a fast break with a layup to put Moravian back up 6-5, three minutes into the game. After an offensive rebound from junior forward Aaron Thieme, he would get the put back to tie the game at eight, five minutes into the game. Strayhorn would hit a deep jumper from the corner to put the Hounds up 10-8 with 14:30 left in the half. That bucket gave Strayhorn his 1,000 career collegiate point with 689 points being scored at Moravian and 311 points during his freshman year at Marywood University.

With 12:26 remaining in the half, junior forward J.T. Wilson and Spencer would make a layup on back-to-back possessions to put the Crusaders up 16-12. Moments later senior forward Jeff Cullinan would drive in for the layup while drawing the foul. He would convert the free throw to bring the Greyhounds within one point of the lead at 16-15.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Perillo and Wilson would put Susquehanna up 24-17 with 9:26 to play in the first half. Strayhorn responded right back with a three of his own to make the score 24-20 thirty seconds later. Sophomore guard Kenny Gula would knot the game at 26. Sophomore forward Cameron Cullen would give the Hounds a 28-26 lead on the next possession with an easy coast-to-coast layup.

Thieme continued Moravian's run with a layup of his own to extend its lead to 30-26 with five minutes to go in the half. Freshman guard Tony Seldon would dash to the basket and make the difficult layup to tie the game back at 30 with four minutes to go in the first half. Strayhorn answered right back with a three-pointer from straight away as the Hounds went up 33-30.

After a layup from the Crusaders, Cullinan would come right back with a tough layup while drawing the foul. He would convert the free throw to put Moravian up 36-32 with 2:28 remaining in the half. Seldon would bring Susquehanna within one point of the lead after drilling a three with 1:41 left in the half. After some free throws from Gula, Moravian would take a 40-37 lead into the locker room.

Moravian shot 44-percent from the field in the first half while Susquehanna shot 56-percent from the field. The Greyhounds held the rebounding edge 18 to 13, and both teams committed six turnovers in the first half. Strayhorn led Moravian with 13 points while Seldon led the Crusaders with seven points and six rebounds in the first half.

Seldon would get Susquehanna on the board first in the second half with a layup. After another layup from Spencer, the Crusaders would take a 43-40 lead two minutes into the second half. After a jumper from Wilson, Cullinan answered right back with a three-pointer, and on the next possession he would get the offensive rebound for the put back to tie the game at 45 five minutes into the second half.

Spencer and Cullen would exchange three-pointers to keep the game knotted at 48 with 14:35 left in the contest. Freshman guard Izel Dickerson would give Moravian its lead back at 50-48 on the next possession. Johnson would join the scoring brigade with a three-pointer on the next possession to put the Hounds up 53-50 with 13 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Crusaders would take back the lead after a deep jumper from Spencer. Strayhorn responded right back with a three-pointer to give the Greyhounds a56-55 lead with nine minutes to go. Strayhorn would come back on the next possession and hit a rainbow jumper from the foul line to give Moravian a 58-55 lead. Gula would follow that up with a three as the Greyhounds went up 61-55 with 6:33 remaining in the game.

Spencer would stop Moravian's momentum with a three of his own to make the score 61-58. Strayhorn would then make a no-look pass to an open Thieme, who nailed the three-pointer to put the Greyhounds up 64-58 with 5:28 left in the contest.

With two free throws made on back-to-back possession from Seldon and Spencer, Susquehanna cut its deficit to one point at 65-64 with three minutes remaining.

With just under 30 seconds to go, Johnson would drive to the basket and make the layup to put the Greyhounds up 67-64. Susquehanna would get the ball with 22 seconds to go as Spencer shot from behind the arc to try and tie the game, but it would hit the front of the iron as Johnson would get the defensive rebound. Gula would seal the victory with a free throw as Moravian went onto win 68-64.

Gula finished with 11 points and three assists while Cullinan had 11 points and five rebounds. Johnson totaled ten boards and nine points while Thieme had eight points and six rebounds.

Leading the way for Susquehanna was Spencer with 21 points and three steals while Seldon had a double-double off of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Wilson totaled 11 points and five rebounds while Perillo had seven points.

Moravian shot 42-percent from the field while Susquehanna shot 44-percent from the field for the game. The rebounds were even at 33 for each team, and both teams finished with 12 turnovers.

Moravian returns to action tomorrow February 4th as they host Landmark Conference foe Juniata College. The contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.