GLENSIDE, Pa. – Freshman Nick Ruisi (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields/Cheshire Academy) scored a career-high 17 points, but The University of Scranton men's basketball team (1-9) dropped a tough 70-61 decision to the Arcadia University Knights (6-4) in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Glenside.
Arcadia was able to erase a 10-point deficit at halftime and took the lead for good with 12:15 to play.
The Knights held a 13-11 lead in the early stages of the first half when sophomore Jon Spatola (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) converted a three-point play to ignite a 16-5 run and Ruisi capped things off with a jumper to make it 27-18 at the 4:32 mark. Arcadia was unable to get any closer than seven over the remainder of the half and junior Cameron Khoza (State College, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) sank a jumper in the final minute to help give the Royals a 39-29 advantage at the break.
In the second half, the Knights sliced the deficit to four at 47-43 before junior Teddy Spratt (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) quickly responded with a jumper of his own for a 49-43 edge at the 14:41 mark. However, Arcadia then used a 14-0 run to make it a 57-49 game and take control of the contest. Despite several valiant comeback efforts from Scranton over the final nine plus minutes, the Royals were unable to get any closer than seven on a couple of different occasions including on a three by Ruisi which made it a 66-59 game with 2:00 to play.
Ruisi's career-best 17 points came on 7-of-12 shooting and Spatola added 15 of his own on 7-of-10 shooting, while Khoza contributed 12 points.
Jalen Watkins paced Arcadia with a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Scranton shot 42.6% (26-of-61) from the floor and 24.0% (6-of-25) from long range on the afternoon and the Knights were 26-of-50 (52.0%) from the field and 5-of-18 (27.8%) from deep.
Spatola led the Royals with six rebounds and Spratt collected five.
The Royals will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 at King's with opening tip slated for 2 p.m.
--ROYALS--
