READING, Pa. - Despite trailing by 12 at the half in Wednesday night's MAC Commonwealth matchup at Albright, the Arcadia University men's basketball team battled back to cut the deficit to two with just over seven minutes left in regulation but were unable to complete the comeback, falling to the Lions on the road, 86-79. Steve Pendleton paced the Knights' offense with a game and season-high 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, while freshman Justin Money set a new season-best with 17 points.

Da'Kquan Davis logged his fourth-consecutive game with at least 20 points, posting 22 to go along with five boards and three steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Lions jumped out to an early lead and led by double-figures by the nine-minute mark of the first half. Pendleton hit a pair of threes in the final minutes of the opening half, but the Knights headed into the intermission trailing by 12 on the road.

-Trailing by the same 12-point deficit at the 11:26 mark of the second half, the Knights tore off a 12-3 run as a Money three brought Arcadia within two with just over eight minutes remaining. Pendleton recorded seven of the Knights' 12 points during the three-minute stretch, including one of his five three-pointers.

-Albright responded with a 12-4 run of its own to regain a ten-point lead and although Pendleton and DJ Gardner drained threes in the final minute to keep the Knights alive, Arcadia was unable to get within a possession of the Lions with a change to tie the game, falling 86-79.

KNIGHT LEADERS
-Points: Pendleton 27, Davis 22, Money 17
-Assists: Davis/Money 4
-Rebounds: Patel 9, Davis 7
-Blocks: Money 2
-Steals: Davis/Patel 3

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Albright shot 49.2 percent (32-65) from the field opposite the Knights' 40.5 percent (30-74) mark.
-Both sides struggled from beyond the arc, but the Knights' 36 percent (9-25) clip edged out the Lions' at an even 28 percent (7-25).
-Albright held the advantage on the boards, 40-31.
-The Knights forced 18 Albright turnovers - 11 of which were steals - and turned those opportunities into 17 points,

UP NEXT
Arcadia (10-9, 5-5 MAC Commonwealth) travels to Messiah Saturday for a 7 p.m. tip-off from Mechanicsburg.