MADISON, N.J. – Four Rangers scored in double figures and the Drew University men's basketball team pulled away midway through the second half to beat Susquehanna University 78-70 in Landmark Conference (LC) action Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gym. With the win, the Rangers (17-5, 9-2 LC) clinched a Landmark Conference playoff berth for the second year in a row and took over sole possession of first place in the conference standings.
 
How it Happened: It was a close game in the opening half, when neither side led by more than five. Bryce Butler canned a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the River Hawks (14-8, 7-4 LC) to make it a 26-24 game at the intermission. Drew led just 47-42 with 10:51 remaining before breaking it open with a 10-0 run in which four different Rangers scored. The hosts pushed their lead to 17 3:23 left following a lay-up from senior forward Nate Aldrich, but Susquehanna rallied to slash the deficit down to seven in the final minute. However, junior guard Riley Collins and senior forward Sky Harris each nailed a pair of big free throws 12 second apart to make it a nine-point game. The River Hawks would convert a lay-up and force a turnover, but after a missed 3-pointer Collins grabbed the rebound and hit a foul shot to set the final score with eight seconds left.
 
Top Performers: Aldrich led the Rangers with his ninth double-double of the season and his fifth in six games. He scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and he also grabbed 10 rebounds. With his first rebound of the night, he became just the third player in school history to reach 800 for his career. Harris added 18 points in 24 minutes off the bench while Collins contributed 17 points and shot 8-for-9 at the foul line. Senior guard Darius Reiter posted 14 points and seven rebounds, and senior guard Dan Roibal grabbed six rebounds. Dominic Dunn scored a game-high 24 points for Susquehanna.
 
Stat Sheet: The Rangers shot over 50 percent from the field for the second time in three games, finishing at 52.8 percent. Drew out-rebounded Susquehanna 41-28 and scored 34 points in the paint. The River Hawks were a perfect 15-for-15 at the foul line.
 
Next Up: The Rangers continue their four-game homestand on Saturday, when they face Elizabethtown College at 4 p.m. in a Landmark Conference tilt.