FEBRUARY 15, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
SCRANTON MEN DOWN KING’S, 84-74
SCRANTON – The University of Scranton men’s
basketball team outscored King’s College 23-10 over the final 7:26 of
the game as the Royals rallied for an 84-74 Freedom Conference victory
over visiting King’s College Tuesday at the John Long Center.
With the win, Scranton improved to 18-5 overall and
9-4 in Freedom Conference play. King’s slipped into a first-place tie
with DeSales after falling to 19-5 and 10-3.
King’s led 64-61 after a pair of John Soboleski
foul shots with 7:18 left. But Scranton would come back to tie the score
at 64-64 on a bucket from Darren Cannon. King’s would take a 68-66 lead
on a pair of foul shots from Vince Scalzo with 5:57 left but the Royals
would make their move.
After the teams traded baskets, Ryan Kirk drained back-to-back
three-pointers, followed by a Brian O’Donnell basket and a short jumper
from Arnold as the Royals took a 78-68 lead with 3:38 left. King’s would
close to within 78-72 on a Scalzo basket and a pair of foul shots from
Landon Gabriel, but Cannon answer with a basket with 1:30 remaining to
give Scranton a 80-72 lead. Arnold was fouled and made one-of-two attempts
to extend the lead to 81-72 with 1:16 left. Arnold again went to the foul
line with 0:44 on the clock connected on one-of-two attempts, as the
Royals would put the game with an 82-72 advantage.
The teams played on even terms through most of the
first half as the Monarchs took a 13-11 lead on a three-point play from
Marty O’Hora and a bucket by Thomas Moore. Scranton would assume a 20-16
lead on back-to-back baskets by Arnold. King’s would later use a
put-back from O’Hora and a three-pointer from Moore to take a 31-26 led
with 4:53 on the clock. After the teams traded baskets, Patrick Clabby hit
a three-pointer to bring the Royals to within 33-32 with 3:15 left in the
half.
King’s would use a 6-0 spurt when Moore was fouled
while attempting a three-pointer and made all three charity tosses. Jim
Welsh then drained a three-pointer to give King’s a 39-32 advantage. But
Scranton outscored King’s 8-2 over the final 2:01 and drew to within
41-40 at the half when O’Donnell hit a three-pointer with 0:04 on the
clock.
Scranton was paced by O’Donnell who finished with 16 points and nine
rebounds while Arnold added 16 points with four assists and four steals.
Cannon netted 15 points with a game-high 13 rebounds while Clabby netted
11 of his 14 points in the first half to keep the Royals close.
Moore led King’s with 15 points, 13 of which came in the opening stanza.
Soboleski added 13 points and eight rebounds while O’Hora added 13
points with six rebounds despite being in foul trouble much of the game. O’Hora
played just four minutes in the second half before fouling out.
King’s will next host FDU-Florham Saturday in its
regular-season finale at 3:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
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