Box Score GLENSIDE, Pa.: Down by only 6 with four minutes to go, Arcadia University missed their next five attempts from the floor while the Warriors of Lycoming College went 6 for 7 at the line to hold off the Knights in today's Commonwealth Conference men's basketball matchup. Arcadia, led by first year Travis Saltus' 14 points, drops to 2-2 in the league (8-6 overall) while the Warriors, led by Ihssan Davis' 20 points, improve to 14-1 overall and remain atop the league standings (4-0).
The loss puts Arcadia on the team's first losing streak of the season. The Knights have a quick turn around though as they can get back on track Monday, at home against Penn College of Technology before heading to Widener for another big Commonwealth Conference game. While Arcadia drops in the Commonwealth standings, Lycoming remains atop the conference with today's win. The victory was the 2nd straight for Lyco (14-1, 4-0 CC) after suffering their 1st and only loss of the season to cross-conference foe, King's, last week.
Arcadia (8-6, 2-2 CC) got off to a sluggish start as they fell down 7-0 in the early minutes. Finally, first year Joe Brown got the Knight's on the board with a 3 pointer from well beyond the arc. The Warriors responded to Arcadia's three with 2 consecutive buckets to initiate a 13-7 run capped by a Michael Rudy layup. The Lycoming run ended with 8:34 remaining on the clock and a 20-10 score on the scoreboard in favor of the Warriors. But no lead is safe against the young Knights as the 10 point Lycoming lead evaporated in a matter of minutes. Arcadia went on a 10-1 run of their own, leaving the score at 21-20 after Saltus converted on a coast to coast layup off of a Jose Figueroa steal. The last minutes of the half would be back and forth, highlighted by back to back mid range jumpers from Saltus and a 3 point shot from Khalief Trawick to knot the score at 29 apiece as the teams went to the locker rooms.
The second half started with Arcadia striking first with 2 foul shots from one of the Commonwealth's best free throw shooters, senior Colin McCarthy. Lycoming responded immediately with a three pointer from Ihsaan Davis. The next 10 minutes was riveting with each team answering score for score. At the 9:26 mark, the Knights held a 2 point lead, 52-50, after a Jason Thompson three point shot. The Warriors responded with a 13-3 run, including 6 straight on back to back 3 pointers from Davis to push the lead to 63-55 with 4:45 left in the game. Arcadia followed with a basket from Figueroa but that was as close as the Knights would get as Lycoming's final run would prove to be the difference maker. Arcadia continued to fight but Lycoming finished out the game getting much needed stops and making free throws to earn themselves the 74-64 victory.
In additionto Saltus' team high of 14 points he added 4 assists. Senior Jason Thomson's 12 points on four 3-pointers. Junior Malcom Still and first year Jose Figueroa scored 9 apiece with 5 and 7 rebounds respectively. Trawick also added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Warriors, Ishaan Davis finished with a game high 20 points while the nation's best assist man Jerald Williams ended up with a game high 8 assists and some key foul shots late in the game (4-5 FT).
The Knights shot just 37.5% from the field to Lycoming's 50.0%.
Arcadia tips-off at 8 p.m. this Monday night for a return to non-conference action hosting Penn College of Technology.
