GLENSIDE, Pa.- The Arcadia University men's basketball posted a wire-to-wire win over Commonwealth Conference rival Hood College on Saturday evening at Alumni Gymnasium. The Knights improved to 10-8 overall and 6-3 in conference play, while the Blazers fell to 9-9 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
Arcadia jumped out to a 10-3 lead to start the game, with senior center
Jose Figueroa contributing seven points, and was highlighted by an alley-oop from sophomore guard
Ryan Kelley to senior guard
Torrell Candelaria for the slam. The Knights shot only 35 percent (10-29) in the first half, but led going into halftime 31-20.
Arcadia found its offensive rhythm in the second half, as it stormed through Hood on a 25-8 run to open up the game to 55-28 with 12:21 remaining. The Knights converted seven straight shots from three-point range during the run, five of which came from Candelaria. Arcadia led by as many as 30, first following a made jumper by Kelley to make the score 60-30, and again following a good free throw by senior forward
Khalil Curtis to make the score 62-32.
The Knights' lead would not fall below 21 the rest of the way. Arcadia shot 68 percent (15-22) in the second half and 58 percent (7-12) from beyond the arc. The Knights shot 49 percent (25-51) for the game, 43 percent (12-28) from three-point range and 89 percent (16-18) from the free-throw line.
Arcadia was led by Candelaria, who had a game-high 22 points and five rebounds. Freshman guard
Sean Mayberry added 15 points, while Kelley contributed 13 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Junior guard
John Landro chipped in five points, seven rebounds, and a game-high eight assists.
Hood was led by senior guard Chris Cook's 20 points, while freshmen guards Malik Harris and B.J. McHenry were the Blazers next-high scorers with eight points each off the bench. Freshman forward Luke Casey added four points and a game-high nine rebound off the bench.
Hood was held to 31 percent (20-64) from the field, 31 percent shooting from three (10-32) and shot just 39 percent (7-18) from the line.
The Knights return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Reading to face Commonwealth Conference rival Alvernia University at 8 p.m.
