Sophomore guard D.J. Strayhorn scored a game high 20 points and led five Moravian College men's basketball players in double figures as the Greyhounds defeated Susquehanna University, 82-77, in Landmark Conference action Friday evening in Johnston Hall, handing the Crusaders their first loss of the conference season.
Junior forward Jeff Cullinan, making just his second collegiate start and first since the 2008-09 season, opened the scoring 20 seconds into the game for Moravian, and a three-pointer by sophomore guard Garrett Johnson gave the Greyhounds a 7-2 lead just over a minute and a half into action. Cullinan had a jumper at the 15:34 mark to give Moravian a 15-10 advantage before Susquehanna ran off ten straight points, taking its first lead, 18-15, on a three-pointer from junior guard Spenser Spencer at the 12:57 mark.
The Crusaders would push their lead to eight points, 27-19, after a jumper from freshman guard Mike Perillo. However, Moravian scored 13 of the next 15 points to retake the lead on a lay-up from senior forward Chris Cullen with 5:42 left in the first half. The Greyhounds saw their lead reach four points, 40-36, after a three-pointer from freshman forward Cameron Cullenwith 3:02 before the intermission, and Moravian headed to the locker room with a 42-40 lead.
Both teams were had hot shooting hands in the first 20 minutes. The Greyhounds were 17-for-31 from the floor (54.8 percent), six-for-12 behind the three-point line and two-for-three at the foul line, and Moravian had a 15-14 edge in rebounds while committing just five turnovers. The Crusaders made 16-of-28 field goal attempts (57.1 percent), four-of-seven three-pointers and four-of-six free throws in the opening half, and Susquehanna had just eight turnovers.
Chris Cullen opened the second half with a three-pointer from Moravian, which led the entire second half. Susquehanna pulled within a point, 49-48, on a lay-up by freshman center Harley Sellinger with 14:53 to play. The Greyhounds answered with a 7-0 run capped on a lay-up by junior forward Marcus Hardy with 11:33 to go.
Spencer would pull Susquehanna within a point again, 64-63 on a pair of free throws with just 4:24 remaining, but Moravian again pushed the lead right back with a lay-up from Strayhorn giving the Greyhounds a 69-63 lead with 3:24 remaining. Chris Cullen and Strayhorn each hit two free throws in the final 22 seconds to help seal the victory.
Moravian was nine-for-21 from the field (42.9 percent), six-of-14 on three-pointers and 16-of-24 at the foul line in the final 20 minutes, and the Greyhounds had 15 turnovers for the game. Susquehanna made 12-of-28 field goal attempts (42.9 percent), three-of-12 three-pointers and ten-of-15 free throws in the second half, and the Crusaders finished with a 32-31 edge in rebounds and 20 turnovers.
Strayhorn just missed a double-double with nine assists, three steals and three rebounds for the Greyhounds while Johnson had 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Cullinan finished with 12 points, four rebounds and three steals while Chris Cullen had 11 points and a team high nine boards for the Greyhounds. Cameron Cullen tossed in a career high ten points while freshman guard Kenny Gula had eight points and two rebounds. Hardy and senior guard Ryan O'Donnell each had two points and two rebounds with Hardy blocking two shots and O'Donnell dishing out four assists.
Sophomore forward J.T. Wilson led Susquehanna with 19 points and four rebounds while Spencer tossed in 17 points off the bench to go with three rebounds. Sellinger finished with 11 points and eight boards wile senior guard Rob Estep had nine points, three assists, three steals and three rebounds for the Crusaders. Sophomore guard/forward Harvey Parnell contributed nine rebounds and five points while senior guard Jason Dawson had eight points and four assists for Susquehanna.