GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University men's basketball team saw its bid for back-to-back MAC Commonwealth championships come to an end Saturday night in Alumni Gymnasium, as the third-seeded Knights suffered a 68-64 loss to third-seeded Lycoming in the conference title game. The Knights and Warriors struggled offensively from the onset of the title game, but a back-and-forth scoring battle ensued in the second half as neither side was able to pull away. The Knights had their chances in the final two minutes - as a Da'Kquan Davis hit a game-tying three with just over a minute remaining in regulation - but foul trouble plagued Arcadia down the stretch in the four-point loss.

Davis finished the night with a game-high 23 points, while Steve Pendleton posted a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds in the effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Knights started just 1-of-8 from the field, but held Lycoming scoreless for first 2:59 of the game as both sides struggled to get into a rhythm offensively.

-Davis powers the Knights back even at six-all with a pair of driving lay-ins, one coming after a Justin Money block on the other end - pinning a Warrior finger roll to the backboard glass.

-The Knights shot just 3-for-15 in the first nearly ten minutes of the opening half, but DJ Gardner provided a spark in his first opportunity off the bench, draining a go-ahead three to vault Arcadia to an 11-9 lead.

-Gardner's three sparked a bit of a run for the Knights, as Davis hit a tough, up-and-under lay-in before Money drew a blocking foul after going airborne on a driving layup attempt, but a Lycoming and-one on the other end followed by back-to-back treys sent the fourth-seed to its largest lead of the half, 22-17.

-The Knights regained a one-point lead via a pair of Gardner free throws before Jalen Watkins capped off a 10-2 run over the final 4:49 of the half with a tough, hanging floater underneath the basket and drew the foul as Arcadia jumped out to a three-point lead with a minute remaining. Arcadia held Lycoming scoreless for the final 2:53 to take a 27-24 lead into the break.

-Lycoming pieced together a 7-0 run at the start of the second half to regain the advantage, 31-29, but a Jacob Walsh dunk on the other end drew the two sides even before a Money corner three gave the Knights back the lead and sparked an 11-0 run over the next two minutes as Arcadia found itself up by a game-high nine.

-The Warriors climbed right back into the game in typical fashion - from beyond the arc - as threes from Hollis and Dangerfield brought Lycoming within a possession of tying, but Davis quieted the run on the other end with a deep three - his first of the game - with just under 13 left in regulation. The Knights were then held scoreless for the next three-plus minutes, but held a 49-44 advantage at the midway point of the second half.

-Following another scoreless stretch from the Knights, Dangerfield, brought the Warriors within one after hitting a running layup and drawing the foul, before a pair of free throws from the line capped a 10-2 run and put Lycoming out ahead, 52-51, with just over seven minutes left in regulation.

-With the Knights trailing by three, 64-61, with just over a minute remaining in regulation, Davis hit a clutch three in front of the Knight bench to tie the game at 64-all. The Warriors went to the line three times in the ensuing possessions - going 4-for-6 from the line to retake the lead - but the Knights were unable to even the score despite a pair of opportunities in the final seconds. A loose ball on a Lycoming inbound went the Warriors' way before Davis and Kishan Patel missed threes in the last ten seconds, resulting in a 68-64 defeat.

KNIGHT LEADERS
-Points: Davis 23, Pendleton 14
-Assists: Walsh 3
-Rebounds: Pendleton 10, Davis/Walsh 6
-Blocks: Pendleton/Walsh 2
-Steals: Pendleton 2