Susquehanna Men’s Basketball Defeats Delaware Valley 67-59 in Season Opener

Susquehanna University’s men’s basketball team secured a 67-59 victory against Delaware Valley University yesterday, marking a successful start to their 2024-2025 regular season.

Senior guard Jackson Van Wagener led the River Hawks with 20 points, shooting 63.6% from the field, alongside eight rebounds and three assists. Rebounding proved crucial for Susquehanna, as they dominated the boards 40-24. The game saw several lead changes, with both teams trading runs throughout the first and second halves. A strong rebounding performance often correlates with success in collegiate basketball, as it provides more scoring opportunities and limits opponents’ chances.

After an initial 8-0 run by Susquehanna, Delaware Valley responded with a 10-0 run of their own. The first half concluded with Susquehanna trailing 34-31, despite 11 points from Van Wagener. In the second half, Delaware Valley briefly took a lead with an 11-1 run, but Susquehanna countered with a 10-2 run led by Audric Washington, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Van Wagener’s subsequent three-point play with 6:41 remaining gave Susquehanna the lead for good. Mario Castro Sanchez also contributed 14 points, shooting 60% from the field. You can find more information about collegiate basketball statistics at NCAA.com.

Brandon Lavitt added 10 rebounds for Susquehanna, supporting the team’s overall rebounding advantage. The River Hawks will now host the Mike Schieb ’78 Memorial Tournament next Friday and Saturday, beginning with a game against King’s College at 8 p.m. For details on the tournament schedule, visit the Susquehanna University Athletics website.