READING, Pa. - The Arcadia University men's basketball team is heading back to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game for the second-consecutive season after defeating the second-seeded Albright Lions on the road in overtime, 93-89. The Knights were led by
Da'Kquan Davis' game-high 40 points and
Steve Pendleton's career-high 32 points, as Arcadia kept the Lions from hitting the game-winner on the final possession of regulation to force overtime.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Davis and Pendleton got off to fast starts to pace the Knight offense from the onset, as the duo combined to go 5-for-5 from the field while the Arcadia defense limited Albright to 2-of-7 shooting to take a six-point lead.
-Albright battled back to take its first lead of the game at the 11:50 mark as a transition lay-in resulted in an Arcadia goaltending violation. However, the Knights responded with a 7-0 run of its own - capped off by a Davis step-back three - to regain another six-point advantage, 23-17.
-Davis continued his torrid start to the first half, going on a personal run of four-for-five from beyond the arc to push the Knight lead to nine with just over seven minutes remaining. Davis ended the half with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Pendleton added 14 of his own as the Knights took a 44-33 lead into the break.
-Albright came out of halftime with a 6-0 run in the early stages of the second half, as the Lions hit 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, cutting the Knight lead to five at 50-45. DJ Gardner hit a pair of critical corner threes to keep the Knights out ahead, and Davis hit a tough, driving lay-in and completed the three-point play at the line to extend the lead to nine at 63-54.
-Albright tied and took the lead, 77-76, at the 2:04 mark of second half after an offensive foul by the Knights and an off-the-ball foul on the other end which resulted in two free throws.
-Davis battled back to hit a huge corner three and followed it up with a tough lay-in, fighting through contact to lift the Knights up two, 81-79 with under a minute remaining. Albright had the final possession of regulation and chose to run the game clock all the way down, but missed the potential game-winning three to send the game to overtime.
-With the Knights trailing in the early stages of overtime, Pendleton came up big with a floater in the lane to tie the score at 85 before dishing to Davis on the following possession to put the Knights back on top, 87-85. After a pair of offensive rebounds in the final minute, Pendleton finally cashed in on a three-ball to break an 87-87 tie before Davis put the game away with a mid-range jumper with 19 seconds left on the game clock, putting Arcadia up five.
KNIGHT LEADERS
-Points: Davis 40, Pendleton 32
-Assists: Pendleton 4, Patel 2
-Rebounds: Pendleton 8, Walsh 7
'-Blocks: Pendleton 2
-Steals: Davis 4
TEAM COMPARISON
-The Knights shot 51.5 percent (34-66) on the night, while Albright 43.8 percent (32-73).
-Arcadia finished the night at 45.8 percent (11-24) from beyond the arc.
-The Knights held a slight advantage in the rebound batte, 41-40.
-In a game that came down to free throws, the Knights prevailed with a 73.7 percent (14-19) showing from the line.
UP NEXT
Arcadia hosts fourth-seeded Lycoming in Saturday's MAC Commonwealth Championship Game as the Knights look to claim their second-straight conference title. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
