STEVENSON, Md. - The Arcadia University men's basketball team battled back from a 13-point halftime deficit to get within one of Stevenson with just over eight minutes left in regulation in Saturday's MAC Commonwealth contest, and despite a 69.7 percent (23-33) second-half shooting performance from the field, the Knights were unable to complete the comeback, falling 91-83 to the host Mustangs.
Da'Kquan Davis and Steven Pendleton combined for 47 of the Knights' 83 points in the effort - with Davis leading the way with a game-high 24 - as Davis logged his sixth game of 20 or more points this season while Pendleton registered his third.
Justin Money and
Jacob Walsh also ended the day in double figures with 11 points apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Davis provided the first bucket of the contest 19 seconds in, but following a Stevenson three at the 17:49 mark, the Knights trailed for the next 12 minutes as the Mustangs led by as much as 11 over that stretch. Arcadia responded with a 21-11 run after Stevenson staked itself to the 11-point advantage, led by a pair of Money threes and capped off by a Walsh three-point play to give the Knights a 28-27 lead with 5:53 remaining in the half. The Mustangs answered right back with a 16-2 run to the end of the half, taking a 13-point lead into the break.
-The Knights were able to stay step-for-step with a sharp-shooting Mustang offense in the second half - cutting the deficit to one on a pair of occasions - but ultimately could not overtake the lead. Trailing by seven at the 7:30 mark of the second half, a Money three and Pendleton jumper cut the deficit to two before a Davis three-ball got the Knights within one with 3:48 remaining.
-The one-point deficit was the closest the Knights got to the Mustangs in the final minutes of the contest, as Stevenson was able to keep it a two-possession game for the final three minutes of regulation before pulling away for the eight-point victory.
KNIGHT LEADERS
-Points: Davis 24, Pendleton 23, Money/Walsh 11
-Assists: Davis 4, Money 3
-Rebounds: Derr 6
-Blocks: Derr 3
-Steals: Money 3
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Despite shooting 37 percent (10-27) from the field in the first half, the Knights rebounded to post a 69.7 percent (23-33) clip in the second half to cut into the deficit, but Stevenson's 50.8 percent (33-65) shooting day was ultimately too much for Arcadia.
-The Mustangs shot a robust 61.9 percent (13-21) from beyond the arc, while the Knights finished the afternoon 5-of-19 (26.3%).
-Stevenson had 27 points off its bench opposite the Knights' total of five.
UP NEXT
Arcadia (5-5, 1-2 MAC Commonwealth) returns to action Tuesday to host Lebanon Valley at 6 p.m. in the Knights' final contest of the calendar year.
