NEW YORK CITY – The Arcadia University men's basketball team moved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1995-96 season with a come-from-behind 90-87 double overtime win over Old Westbury in the NYU Tip Off Tournament. John Landro led all Knights with 24 points. Arcadia takes on NYU in the Championship Game tomorrow night.
 
It took no time for the scoring to get started with the Panthers scoring the first four points in just over a minute. Landro put the Knights on the scoreboard with a three 1:10 in the contest. The senior hit another three just shy of three minutes in to give Arcadia a slim 9-8 advantage. A layup and free throw from freshman Phil Pierfy opened a four point lead with 14:55 left in the half. Following a tie game at 14-14, Old Westbury scored the next 11 points over a four minute span. The Panthers led by as many as 17 with four and a half minutes to go in the half, however Arcadia trimmed the deficit to 12 at 42-30 heading into the break.
 
Pierfy led the Knights with 11 first half points on 4 of 5 shooting and converting 3 of 4 free throws. Arcadia shot 44% as a team in the opening 20 minutes, however the Panthers converted 59.3% of their shots and 63.6% from distance.
 
Pierfy knocked down a jumper to open the second half before a Ryan Kelley three brought Arcadia within seven. A technical foul against Old Westbury sent the Knights to the line for four free throws, Landro knocked down the first two, and Kelley the second, to help Arcadia chip away at the deficit. Landro nailed a three with 11:18 left to pull the Knights within three at 53-50. A pair of Brandon Thompson free throws with 4:40 left brought the Knights within one. Landro would tie the game with 1:01 remaining to send the game to overtime.
 
Kelley gave Arcadia its first lead since the first half with 1:22 left in first overtime period following a pair of free throws. Landro went to the line with 30 ticks left converting both free throw attempts, however the Panthers responded with a three with 18 seconds left to go to a second overtime.
 
Evan Slone led the Knights to a fast start in the second overtime scoring four of the first five points for the Scarlet and Grey. The defense kept the Panthers at  bay as Landro scored the Knights final five points all on free throws, the last coming with eight seconds left to secure the win.
 
The Knights took advantage numerous Panther mistakes as the Scarlet and Grey scored 37 points off 27 Panther turnovers and took 47 free throws, converting 33 of them.
 
Landro was joined by Pierfy (20), Kelley (14) and Thompson (11) in double figure scoring. Josh Scott led the Knights in rebounding with 10.
 
Mark Gjonlekaj led the Panthers with a double-double on 27 points and 11 rebounds.
 
"Our youth and inexperience really showed in the first half. I thought we were flat to start and didn't play with energy and enthusiasm. However, it's a 40 minute game and we found a way to make enough plays to get back in it and ultimately win" said head coach Justin Scott. "It was really good to see us fight back. This was the first time this year that we had to play from behind and our guys showed the poise and focus to take things one possession at a time. I think we grew up a lot today and realized that if we stick to what we do consistently, we will be in good shape."
 
Arcadia will take on NYU in tomorrow's championship game at 7 p.m.