Box Score GLENSIDE, Pa.: Arcadia University grabbed momentum everytime opportunity knocked and handed visiting Elizabethtown College a 75-67 loss in tonight's Commonwealth Conference opener in front of a packed crowd at the Kuch Center. The Knights were led by senior Colin McCarthy (Langhorne, PA/Holy Ghost) who led all scorer's with 18 points behind 4-7 shooting, 8-9 from the charity stripe to go along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. The Knights improve to 2-2 overall.
After a back and forth first half the Knights took a 6 point lead (35-29) on a buzzer-beating three from McCarthy from the top of the key off a fresh pass from first year Travis Saltus (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) on the baseline. That seemed to the be turning point as the Knights went into the locker room with momentum and only added to it in the second stanza.
Both teams continued to trade buckets early in the second half as the Knights lead lingered around 4 points until Arcadia sophomore Rashon Brock (Buena, NJ/Beunat) took a rebound coast to coast, rose up and threw down a dunk that envies those found on Sports Center's Top Ten. The Kuch Center and Knights exploded as the dunk heard around campus was followed by an Arcadia 12-0 run in a 4 minute span in the second half to push the lead to 16 points.
The Blue Jays (1-4 overall) and Kyle McConnell, who finished with a team high 15 points, would make a late run to turn the 16 point deficit into a 7 point game (66-59). Yet, a three pointer from first year Joe Brown (Philadelphia, PA/LaSalle) would seal the home and Commonwealth Conference victory for Arcadia, and the team's second straight win over the visitors dating back to last season.
In addition to McCarthy's 18 point performance, junior Khalief Trawick (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Learning Center) finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds for the Knights, while Brown and senior Jason Thompson (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Twp.) added 9 points apiece.
Despite being out-rebounded by the Jays 39-32 for the game, the Knights out-shot E'town 52% from the floor, 35.3% from long-range and 68% from the stripe. Elizabethtown struggled shooting and ended the game 41.7% from the field and 20% from three-point range.
Arcadia travels to Annville, PA to face off in another Commonwealth Conference battle with Lebanon Valley on Dec. 3rd at 3 p.m.
