Warriors Pull Out Down to the Wire Win Over Knights

Box Score
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.: Lycoming College saw it's one-time 19 point first half lead erased by Arcadia University, but despite a gutsy comeback mid-way through the second half, the Knights came up without the victory as the Warriors snapped a three-game winless streak at home with a 81-74 win over Arcadia in today's Commonwealth Conference matchup.

The loss for Arcadia (9-12, 2-10 CC) is the sixth straight and darkens the hopes of the programs first playoff berth since the 2005-06 season.

The Warriors placed four players in double-figure scoring led by Mike Bradley's 19 points. Gerald Williams scored 15, Chris Foreman finished with 14 while Anthony Martin added 11 points for the victors.

Arcadia's Khalief Trawick led all scorer's with 21 points while dishing out 4 assists and earning 5 steals. Junior Malcom Still scored 18 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and added 3 assists. First year Travis Saltus chipped in with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.

Arcadia used a strong effort in the second half to out-shoot the Warriors 50.9% to 49.1%. The Knights also out-performed the home team from downtown, where they finished 8 of 16 (50%) to Lycoming's 7 of 15 effort (46.7%). The Warriors earned bragging rights at the free throw line, out-shooting Arcadia 85.7% to 55.6% and also gained the slight edge in rebounds over Arcadia 32-31.

Bradley put Lycoming on his back in the opening minutes and out-scored the Knights all by himself putting the Warriors on top 13-2 after six minutes of action. A three-pointer from Ishaan Davis and two in the paint from Kevin Anthony pushed the home team out to a 19-point lead with 13:03 to play in the opening half. Arcadia's only points in the span came from senior Colin McCarthy on a layup at 18:33 and it wasn't until a layup at 12:29 from first year Aaron Lee-Webb and seven points from junior Malcom Still on two jumpers and a three-ball that the Knights were able to stop the bleeding and force an 11-point difference on the scoreboard, with Lycoming still in front 23-12 with 10:26 to go before the half.

A steal from Trawick and a strong finish on the fast break at 5:37 led to another steal at 5:21 from first year Travis Saltus who dished ahead to Trawick for two more and all of the sudden Arcadia trailed by just 8 (31-23). Saltus passed to Trawick for two more at the four minute mark and a six point Lycoming lead but the Warriors came right back down the floor and Gerald Williams drained a three to spark a 13-1 run that saw Lycoming close the first half with a 44-26 lead.

The Warriors got 18 points from their bench in the opening twenty and scored 20 points from the Knights 11 first-half turnovers while Bradley finished the half strong with 13 points on 5 for 6 shooting.

Lycoming clung to their double-digit lead for the opening twelve minutes of second half action but as they have done on many occassions this season, the Knights rose to the challenge. A three pointer from first year Joe Brown at 12:25 finally sliced Arcadia's deficit down to single digits (51-43). Although the Warriors went ahead by 11, Arcadia responded, using another three, this time from Still at 9:52 to begin a 14-4 Arcadia run that ended as Trawick knocked down one from distance at 5:42 for a one-point game, with Lycoming in front 59-58.

The Arcadia run was part of a larger 21-9 run for the Knights that ended on a layup from sophomore Rashon Brock giving Arcadia its first lead of the contest (62-61) with 4:21 to play in the game. But Bradley followed up two Lycoming free throws with a basket in the paint, giving the lead back to the Warriors 65-62 with 3:52 to go. Trawick answered with his second from downtown to knot the game at 65-all, only to have it answered by another three from Williams as the home team regained a three-point advantage with 2:43 to play. Arcadia fouled Bradely who made both at 1:44 increasing Lycoming's spread to 5 (72-67) and an Arcadia turnover and steal by Williams on the next play caused the Knights to foul again, sending Bradely back to the line for two more, proving to be the turning point as the Warriors held on to win by seven.

The Knights are home for their next two Commonwealth games, beginning with Widener University this Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. followed by Messiah College, who visits the Kuch Center on Saturday, Feb. 11 (3 p.m.)

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