Box Score MADISON, N.J. (January 11, 2014) – The Drew University men's basketball team held off a furious Susquehanna (8-5, 0-2 Landmark) second-half rally to win 64-63 in Baldwin Gym this afternoon. The Rangers improve to 7-6 on the season and 1-1 in Landmark Conference play.

The Crusaders had a running floater in the lane bounce off the front of the rim as time expired, nearly capping a monumental second-half comeback. The Rangers came out of the gates red-hot and went into halftime with a 45-21 lead. Fortunes turned in final 20 minutes, as Susquehanna outscored Drew 42-19.

Sophomore Mike Klinger (Franklin Park, N.J./Rutgers Prep) scored a game-high 18 points and dished off three assists. Senior John Ford (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) once again had the hot hand from deep, draining five, three-pointers on the day. The fourth-year swingman finished with 15 points and six rebounds.

Sophomore Jason Huelbig (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) helped the Rangers jump out to the huge first half lead. He scored 12 of his 16 points in the opening frame and pulled down a team-high, seven rebounds. As a team, the Rangers shot 59 percent from floor and were 6-of-8 from three-point land in the first half.

The Crusaders were able to neutralize the Rangers attack in the final stanza by applying full court pressure. The Rangers made only five shots from the floor in the second half were only 3-of-8 from the three-point line.

As the Rangers shooting went cold in the second, the Crusaders seized the opportunity by making a 22-5 run midway through final period and pulled within 10 points with 7:56 remaining. The game-changing run for the Crusaders came in the final 1:55 where they scored 11 of the final 13 points.

Drew could not capitalize from the free throw line down the stretch missing two crucial freebees in the closing seconds. Klinger sunk two free throws with 19 seconds left to put the Rangers up 64-60. Susquehanna's Jake Eskin came down the court, made a layup and drew the foul. He converted old-fashioned three-point play to pull the Crusaders within one, 64-63. On the ensuing possession, Ford came up with a steal forcing Susquehanna to foul with five seconds left.

A missed free throw gave Eskin one more chance as he went coast -to-coast only to have his floater bounce of the front rim. Eskin finished with a team-high 17 points in a balanced Susquehanna attack.

The Rangers will continue Landmark Conference play on Wednesday when they take on Moravian College at 7:00 p.m.