BOX SCORE

YORK, Pa. – The Neumann College men's basketball let an 11 point lead slip away in the second half and fell to Susquehanna University, 59-57, Sunday afternoon in the Championship match at the White Rose Classic at York College.

Eli Hitchens led the Knights with 16 points and seven rebounds. Mike Hitchens netted 10 points. Joel Patch led Susquehanna (2-0) with 12 points. Matt McDevitt and Hunter McKain each netted 11 points. McKain also pulled down 10 rebounds.

With the game knotted at 57, Susquehanna's McDevitt hit a free throw with 12.4 seconds left in regulation to lift the Crusaders over Neumann. The free throw completed the Crusader's comeback from being down 10 points (51-41) half way through the second half.

Neumann (1-1) never trailed in the game until the last 12 seconds. Mike Hitchens started the contest by hitting a three-pointer as the Knights opened on a 12-4 run. Neumann took an 11 points lead, 34-23 lead into the locker room.

Over a three minute span part way though the second half, Neumann had a 39-29 lead when Susquehanna went on a 7-0 run to cur the lead to three. The Knights would build their lead back up to 11 with 9:27 remaining, 51-40, but NC would be held to just six point the rest of the contest.

The Crusaders tied the game at 55-all on a lay-up by McKain. Sean Armstrong made two free throws to put Neumann back up by two. Patch hit a lay-up to tie the game at 57 before McDevitt made his free throw to put Susquehanna ahead. McKain hit a free throw with nine seconds left to seal the win.

Neumann will open its home schedule this Tuesday as it hosts Widener. The game is slated to start at 7 p.m.