Over the course of game, the score was tied 11 times, with Susquehanna taking the lead four times and Elizabethtown taking the lead five times. Susquehanna stormed out to a 20-9 lead 13:34 into the game. Elizabethtown tied the game 28-28 5:21 into the first half. Etown took a 35-32 lead on a Kris Kieres (Barnesville, PA/Mahanoy Area) three-pointer 1:55 before halftime, and the Blue Jays took a 39-38 advantage into the locker room.
By the time 8:59 was left in the game, Susquehanna held a 63-59 lead following an Andy Gaebel (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) three-pointer. Elizabethtown went ahead to stay on another Kieres trey at 6:39 that gave the Blue Jays a 68-65 lead. By the time three minutes were left, Elizabethtown held a 78-67 lead. By the time 12 seconds were left, however, Susquehanna had cut the gap to 80-77. Elizabethtown held an 82-79 lead with four seconds left. Brian Goodwin (Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) was fouled with 0.7 seconds remaining and made both of his free throws for Etown to put the game away.
Michael Schatzmann (Paradise, PA/Pequea Valley) led Elizabethtown in scoring with a career-best total of 28 points, and he led the team in rebounds with five. He shot 10-for-14 from the field, 4-for-6 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Chad Piersol (Elverson, PA/Owen J. Roberts) scored 16 points from off the bench for Etown, and he shot 7-for-10 from the field and 2-for-4 from behind the arc. Kieres scored 10 points as he shot 2-for-4 from the field, 2-for-3 from downtown and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Goodwin led the Blue Jays in assists with six and totaled four points.
Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, PA/Nativity BVM) led Susquehanna in scoring with 21 points and in rebounds with 11 as he shot 7-for-11 from the field, 2-for-2 from downtown and 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Josh Robinson (Mahwah, NJ/River Dell) scored 20 points and led Susquehanna in assists with four. Gaebel scored 17 points from off the bench and hit five three-pointers, and Joel Patch (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Susquehanna out-rebounded Elizabethtown 36-29. Elizabethtown shot 52.6% (30-for-57) from the field, 52.6% (10-for-19) from three-point range, and 77.8% (14-for-18), the team’s best performance this season, from the free throw line. Susquehanna shot 44.6% (25-for-56) from the field, 10-for-23 (43.5%) from three-point range, and 19-for-25 (76%) from the free throw line.
Elizabethtown will return to action on the road Saturday, December 2 at Commonwealth Conference rival Lebanon Valley College at 3:00 p.m.
At Elizabethtown, Pa. - Thompson Gymnasium ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE 84, SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY 79 SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY (3-1, 0-1 Comm.) Kevin Cuff 7-11 5-6 21; Josh Robinson 6-11 7-9 20; Andy Gaebel 5-11 2-2 17; Joel Patch 4-11 2-2 10; Brad Okonak 1-4 2-4 5; Matt McDevitt 1-5 1-2 4; Bryan Majors 1-2 0-0 2; Brandon Andersen 0-1 0-0 0; Chad Cohle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-56 19-25 79. ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE (2-3, 1-0 Comm.) Michael Schatzmann 10-14 4-4 28; Chad Piersol 7-10 0-0 16; Kris Kieres 2-4 4-5 10; Greg Brizek 2-6 1-2 7; Luke Ledyard 2-4 3-4 7; Phil Schaffer 3-3 0-0 6; Brian Goodwin 1-7 2-2 4; Billy Orr 2-2 0-1 4; Bryce Rodgers 1-6 0-0 2; Chris Fairbanks 0-1 0-0 0; Nick Kennedy 0-0 0-0 0; Jordan Dirago 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-57 14-18 84. Susquehanna University........ 38 41 - 79 Elizabethtown College......... 39 45 - 84 3-point goals--Susquehanna University 10-23 (Andy Gaebel 5-10; Kevin Cuff 2-2; Josh Robinson 1-5; Matt McDevitt 1-3; Brad Okonak 1-3), Elizabethtown College 10-19 (Michael Schatzmann 4-6; Greg Brizek 2-4; Kris Kieres 2-3; Chad Piersol 2-4; Brian Goodwin 0-2). Fouled out—Susquehanna University-None, Elizabethtown College-None. Rebounds—Susquehanna University 36 (Kevin Cuff 11), Elizabethtown College 29 (Michael Schatzmann 5). Assists--Susquehanna University 17 (Josh Robinson 4), Elizabethtown College 19 (Brian Goodwin 6). Total fouls--Susquehanna University 21, Elizabethtown College 20. Technical fouls--Susquehanna University-None, Elizabethtown College-None. A-450