Men’s hoops drops season finale to Susquehanna, 72-58

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College closed out its 2008-09 men's basketball season with a 72-58 loss to Susquehanna University, Saturday night at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center in Huntingdon.

Junior Jeff Berkey (Stoystown, Pa./Shanksville-Stonycreek) led Juniata with 16 points, while senior David Thompson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) tallied 12 points with six rebounds.

Juniata (7-17, 5-9 Landmark) held a 37-26 lead at the intermission, after going on a 17-0 run late in the first half. Thompson led the drive with four points, while senior Eric Mueseler capped the run at 31-19 with a three-pointer with 2:34 left on the clock. Berkey drained a pair of three-pointers over the final two minutes, protecting the Juniata lead down the stretch of the first half. 

Susquehanna, who outscored Juniata 46-21 after the break, dominated the second half. A 13-4 run by the Crusaders cut the Eagle lead down to two points, 41-39, and Susquehanna knotted the game at 43-43 with 13:51 showing on the first of two Rob Cosgrove free throws. 

The two squads traded the lead twice and were tied twice, ending with a 46-46 deadlock following a free throw by Juniata's Johnny Martinez (Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) at the 11:56 mark. The Crusaders answered with six straight points, taking a lead they would not relinquish. 

Susquehanna (17-7, 11-3 Landmark) was led by Joel Patch's 27 points and 13 rebounds, including a dunk at the 8:47 mark of the first half that put the senior over the 1,000-point mark for his career. Matt McDevitt added 18 points and 10 boards, while Cosgrove finished with 17 points. The Crusaders shot a blistering 59.3% (16-27) from the field in the second half, in the comeback win over the Eagles.

Juniata shot 50.0% (14-28) in the opening frame, but cooled to just 8-of-32 in the second stanza and finished at 36.7% (22-60) for the game.

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