READING, PA: (Feb. 3, 2011) - Despite a career high of 32 points from Damien Palantino 'GR (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) the Arcadia University men's basketball team (5-14 Overall 0-9 Commonwealth) were handed a 78-58 loss at the hands of the Crusaders of Alvernia University (13-4 Overall 8-1 Commonwealth). The Knights, who did not have a lead the entire game were unable to stop a balanced Crusaders' offense, which produced five double digit scorers for the game. The win gives Alvernia a sweep of the season series between the two clubs, as the Crusaders handed Arcadia a 62-51 victory in January on the Knights' home court.
Alvernia jumped on Arcadia early notching their first basket on a Brian Nemey layup at the 19:40 mark of the half, and later pushed their lead to double digits for the first time with 9:16 remaining. Despite being down by a first half high of 13 the Knights were able to use good team shooting to climb back within six points with 35 seconds to go. Palantino led the Knights' charge with 18 points in the half on 7 for 9 shooting from the field including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Jason Thompson '12 (Cape May Court House, NJ/Middle Township) cut the lead to six on two free throws, but Alvernia answered with a Stefan Thompson three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Crusaders a 35-26 half time lead. It was the second time in two games that Arcadia's opponent has ended the first half on a buzzer trey. The Knights out-rebounded the Crusaders by a 13-10 margin but were dominated in the paint 18-4.
The Knights came out in the second half firing, cutting their deficit to three at the 18:51 mark after two treys from Palantino and Lester Owens '11 (Manalapan, NJ/St. Joe Metuchen). Alvernia responded by outscoring the Knights 25-7 the next ten minutes building up their lead to then game high 18 points (60-42) with 10:54 to go in the half. The Knights were unable to get the lead down to past 10 from that point on despite a valiant effort from Colin McCarthy '11 (Langhorne, PA/Holy Ghost Prep), who put up 11 of his 12 points in the half.
Palantino's 32 point performance was highlight by 10-20 shooting from the field including 6-13 from three point land. He also shot a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe and played in a team high 36 minutes. McCarthy ended his night off the benching putting up not only 12 points but by pulling down a team high eight rebounds, six of which were on the offensive end. Owens added eight points and dished out a team high six assists and shot 3-4 from the free throw line. Alvernia was paced by steady performances by its' starters including a team high 20 points from Stefan Thompson who also drained four threes, but also Cory Boone who added 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.
A Thursday evening games means the Knights will have one less day to prepare for another conference showdown as they travel to Williamsport for the second time this season, but this time they will battle Lycoming College. Last year's game at Lycoming ended in a dramatic 69-68 loss for Arcadia in one of their best performances of the year highlight by then junior Darrell Mills' '11 (Philadelphia, PA/Engineering & Science) 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Knights will certainly hope for a different outcome this year. Tip-off is slated for 3 PM.
