John Carroll JCU 4-0,0-0 OAC

Susquehanna SUSQ 2-2,0-0 Landmark

John Carroll JCU

4-0,0-0 OAC

Final

Nov. 18, 2023

Susquehanna SUSQ

2-2,0-0 Landmark

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
John Carroll JCU	34	49	83
Susquehanna SUSQ	35	38	73

Summary
Box Score

John Carroll bested Susquehanna to advance to 4-0.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/18/2023 6:37:00 PM | Deuce Zak, Senior Staff Writer

Men's Basketball Wins the Susquehanna Tip-Off Tournament

SELINSGROVE, PA -- What a weekend for John Carroll Athletics. On a day where a red-hot Women's Soccer team punched their ticket to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division III Tournament, a certain top-ranked team also earned a victory in Pennsylvania.

John Carroll Men's Basketball team took on Susquehanna in the finals of the Susquehanna Tip-Off Tournament, and weathered an early storm from the hosts, getting a big win, 83-73.

The first half was a slow start for the Blue and Gold. As was often the case one year ago, the Blue Streaks had a difficult time getting it going on both sides of the ball, as the normally stingy River Hawks were hot throughout the first half.

The visitors responded in kind and attempted to create separation, going up by as much as six in the first nine minutes, but the hosts didn't shy away, countering every punch that the Blue and Gold threw.

Chase Toppin and Luke Frazier did a lot of heavy lifting on the offensive side of the ball, consistently getting to the rack and steadying the team after a River Hawk run. Frazier also had a monster jam late in the first period that tied the game, providing a huge energy boost just before the half.

Eventually, the Pennsylvanians managed to take the lead, the first time the Blue Streaks had trailed throughout the weekend. At the end of 20 minutes, a late free throw put the River Hawks up 35-34, and the Blue Streaks went into the locker room needing to put something together.

And put something together the Blue Streaks did. For most of the second half, it was all JCU, who went on a 21-6 run in the first six minutes of the half to create a 14-point cushion over the River Hawks. The physicality increased ten-fold to start the half, and it created a lead that the visitors would never relinquish.

Luke Chicone arrived in the second half, impacting every play on both sides of the floor, and got to the free throw line constantly, making the opposing guards look lost whenever he had the ball in his hands.

Luke Frazier had several emphatic dunks to energize the entire team, and Chase Toppin was a pest on defense, leading to easy buckets.

The River Hawks refused to fade away, continuing to hit tough shots on seemingly dead possessions, never letting the deficit go beyond 20. In the final stages, the hosts clawed back to as close as 10, but no closer, as the Blue Streaks got the win and the tournament title.

A Big 3 is brewing in University Heights. Once again, the trio of Luke Chicone, Luke Frazier, and Chase Toppin put up incredible numbers to elevate the Blue and Gold. Chicone and Frazier both topped the squad in scoring with 24 points, with Frazier grabbing 7 rebounds and Chicone grabbing 6. Toppin also had a big game, putting up 16 points.

Henry Raynor added 8 points and 5 rebounds and Will Yontek added 5 point. In total, Blue Streak starters put up 77 of the 83 points on the night, a massive contribution that almost feels normal. The Blue Streaks shot nearly 50% from the field on the evening, a high efficiency mark against a stout River Hawk defense.
Luke Chicone and Luke Frazier were both awarded All-Tournament honors for their incredible weekends, and student manager Deuce Zak was awarded Tournament MVP.

Looking ahead, the Blue Streaks aren't in action for another 11 days, until they start OAC play with a massive crosstown matchup against the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin-Wallace. A 4-0 start is great for the Blue and Gold, but the regular season starts now, and every game will be of vital importance.

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