ELIZABETHTOWN, PA:  (Dec. 4, 2010) -  Four players scoring in double-figures was enough for Elizabethtown College as the Blue Jays outlasted Arcadia University in the second half of today's Commonwealth Conference men's basketball game, 79-61.  Arcadia drops its third straight to fall to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the Commonwealth while Etown improves to 6-1 and 2-0 in the league. 

Damien Palantino 'GR led the Knights with a season high 17 points on 6-10 shooting (5-8 from three point land).  Jose Ortiz '13 netted 14 points on 5-9 shooting and went 2-2 from beyond the arc and grabbed a team high 6 rebounds.  Colin McCarthy '12, Jason Thompson '12 and Chris Pearson '11 each scored 7 for Arcadia.  Elizabethtown was led by Brian Allports' 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Joe Flannagan and Keith Fogel each scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds while Mark Vogel added 10 points for the Blue Jays.

The first half was intense, featuring 10 lead changes and any many big time shots.  For Arcadia, three of those lead changes fell into their favor, all off of three pointers from Palantino, the first two occuring in the opening four minutes of play.  Palantino's third game changing three ball came with 4:22 to play in the half that gave Arcadia the 23-20 advantage.  The final four minutes of the half saw an offensive explosion as the teams went back and forth before settling on a 34-33 score at the half, advantage Blue Jays. 

Etown would go up five to open the second half and then must have forgotten about Palantino lingering outside the three point line.  After he stepped inside the arc for two, he would pull up from downtown and drain another to tie the score at 28 at 17:46.  But the Knights would fall victim to a dry spell over the next 5:09, allowing Etown to go up by 12, 50-38.  Arcadia would then miss their next three while Etown would cause and convert on two Knight turnovers to go up 22, 62-40 with 9:32 remaining.  And from that point on, it was all over but the shouting for the home team as the Blue Jays would go on for the 79-61 victory. 

The Knights out-shot the Blue Jays from behind the arc 50% - 23% and 69% - 53% from the line but were out-dueled on field goal shooting 52% - 47%. 

Arcadia will look to rebound this Tuesday night at home when they host non-conference opponent Delaware Valley College at 7 PM.