OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Arcadia University outlasted Stevenson University for a 79-75 MAC Commonwealth men's basketball victory Saturday afternoon at Owings Mills Gymnasium.
Arcadia (10-8, 5-4 MAC Commonwealth) was led by 25 points from Phil Pierfy, while Evan Slone had 15 points.
Stevenson (10-8, 2-7) got 22 points from senior Danzel Wright as he finished 7-13 from the floor. Freshman Kobe Colston finished with 13 points off the bench, while junior Keith Moody added 10 points.
Stevenson took a 64-62 lead with 6:00 on the clock on a basket by Colston, but 16 seconds later, a three by Pierfy put the Knights on top for good, 65-64. Another three by Brandon Thompson with 4:52 left gave the visitors a 68-64 advantage. The Mustangs pulled within one, 71-70, with 2:30 left on a layup by Moody.
Arcadia reclaimed a three point lead at the 1:38 mark on a Pierfy basket, but on the other end, junior Jaylin Johnson was fouled and made a pair of free throws to again pull the Mustangs within one with 1:23 left. Arcadia missed a three-point attempt, but Scott grabbed the offensive board, and with 41 seconds to go, the Mustangs were forced to foul. Evan Slone sank a pair to make it 75-72.
After an empty Mustang trip, Jon Lott was fouled and sank two with 19 seconds left. Two more Knight free throws made it 79-72 before Colston sank a three with four seconds left to account for the final.
Stevenson trailed 20-15 at the 11:26 mark, but five straight points, including a three by Mark Terrell at 10:34, tied the game 20-20. Arcadia used an 8-0 run to go up by nine, 32-23, 3:27 before intermission, but Stevenson cut the lead to five with an 8-4 spurt to go into the locker room down 36-31.
A 18-4 run coming out of the locker room for Stevenson gave it a nine-point lead five minutes into the second half on a layup by Marcus Dentley. Arcadia scored the game's next eight points, but Stevenson held the Knights at bay until they went up 54-53 with just under 11 minutes remaining. The lead traded hands six times over the next four-plus minutes.
Stevenson knocked down eight of its 18 three-point attempts and shot 48% overall, but 21 Mustang turnovers led to a 19-16 lead in points off turnovers for the Knights. Arcadia shot 43% overall and 19-24 at the free throw line, while the Mustangs were 17-20 at the charity stripe, but Arcadia held a 35-29 rebound advantage and an 18-9 lead in second chance points.
The Mustangs return to action Wednesday night at Lebanon Valley for an 8:00 contest.