Marcinek Reaches Milestone As Crusaders Down Royals

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - It was a grand homecoming for the Susquehanna University men's basketball team Friday, as the Crusaders got head coach Frank Marcinek his 250th career win, and moved to 2-0 in Landmark Conference play with a 78-70 win over the University of Scranton. 

The win snapped a five-game losing skid and was the Crusaders' first of the new year. Susquehanna got off to a strong start in the first game of a Landmark doubleheader weekend.

Scranton struck first on a Tom Bicknell layup followed by a free throw. Kevin Cuff (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity B.V.M.) responded with a with a jumper of his own, and the lead would see-saw back and forth from there for much of the first half. The Crusaders carried a seven-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

Second-half play opened with two Rob Cosgrove (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) free throws and a Josh Robinson (Mahwah, N.J./River Dell) three pointer to extend the Crusader lead to 12. Susquehanna held the lead for good, going up by as many as 17 until Scranton scored a quick six points in the waning moments to cut the final deficit to eight.

Robinson led all scorers with 26 points, followed by Brad Okonak (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon)(above left) with 19. Cuff chipped in 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Bryan Majors (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) chipped in six assists and four steals.

Bicknell led the Royals with 20 points and a 17 rebounds, while Zach Ashworth added 16 points.

Prior to the game, the Crusaders recognized Cuff for reaching the 1,000-career-point plateau. He had 396 in his first two seasons at Division II Millersville, and his 18 points against Coastal Carolina last Saturday put him at 1,004 total.

He was joined on the court by his parents, Don and Cathy Cuff, and presented with a commemorative game ball.