Box Score
GLENSIDE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley College blew a 12-point second-half lead as it lost to Arcadia University in the final minute, 76-72, in its Commonwealth Conference opener Wednesday night.
The Dutchmen (6-6, 0-1 CC) committed two turnovers and an offensive foul in the final minute of the game as they were held scoreless over the final 2:04 of the game.
Dan Dunkelberger ended with 19 points and five rebounds, and
Dan Hodge scored 17. Kyle Enoch added 11 points, and
Joe Meehan and
Sean MacIntosh each scored nine.
Four players were in double figures for the Knights (6-7, 1-0 CC), led by Terrell Varnado's 17 and Damien Palantino's 16.
Khalief Trawick came off the bench to play hero for Arcadia, hitting two layups around the one-minute mark to put the Knights ahead. Varnado finished the game by making three of four foul shots and stealing LVC's final chance at a game-winning shot with three seconds left.
After leading most of the first half, the Dutchmen opened up a double-digit lead on Dunkelberger's layup five minutes into the second half, and held it there until Arcadia hit a 9-0 run capped by Bobby Mulholland's three-pointer with 8:07 to go to pull within three at 62-59.
LVC hung onto the lead, but Palantino drained a trey two minutes later to tie the game at 67. A two-minute scoring drought by both sides was broken with a Meehan foul shot, and Dunkelberger made four straight foul shots to go up 81-67 with 2:04 remaining.
That would be the final time Lebanon Valley scored, however, as Palantino makde a layup, then picked off Meehan to set up Trawick's bucket to cut the lead to a point. Dunkelberger was then blocked by Glen Gagnon, and Hodge's offensive foul led to Trawick's go-ahead layup with 27 seconds to go.
With a chance to go back up, the two sides traded turnovers before Enoch got a look at a three-pointer that missed. Forced to foul, LVC sent Varnado to the line, where he made one, but LVC, with 11 seconds and a chance to tie or win, turned the ball over when Enoch was stripped by Varnado with three ticks left.
LVC will regroup and head to Albright College Saturday for a 4 p.m. tilt.
