McDaniel holds on to defeat Swarthmore 66-61 in conference opener
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Chad Arrington (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown) recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead McDaniel to a 66-61 victory over Swarthmore in the Centennial Conference (CC) men’s basketball opener for both teams on Wednesday.
Ian McCormick led the Garnet (2-2, 0-1 CC) with a triple-double, contributing game highs of 16 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
Kevin Henry (Potomac, Md./Bullis School) chipped in 10 points for the Green Terror (4-0, 1-0 CC), who are off to its best start since opening the 1981-82 campaign with four straight wins.
Ryan Finch (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon) opened the game with a steal-and-layup and McDaniel never trailed.
Leading 6-2 just 2 minutes, 49 seconds into the game, T.J. Odunlami (Columbia, Md./Atholton) scored five straight points to spark a 25-8 run over the next 10:20 to stretch the lead to its largest at 31-10.
Still trailing by 21 with 3:04 to play in the half, Swarthmore started its comeback, putting together a 38-18 run that spanned both halves to trim the deficit to 55-54.
A Sam Lacy 3-pointer – the only triple the Garnet hit in 14 attempts – cut the halftime margin to 41-27 but it was three straight Steve Wolf layups and three points from McCormick that capped the rally.
A Finch tip-in with 7:23 to play halted the comeback and re-established the three-point advantage.
Noam Fliegelman cut the lead to 62-61 with 2:53 to play, but an Arrington steal-and-layup nearly a minute later and two Miguel Jones (Baltimore, Md./North County) free throws with 4.5 seconds showing staved off the rally.
Fliegelman had 14 points while Wolf finished with 12 for Swarthmore.
Arrington added five steals and two assists for the Green Terror.
McDaniel returns to at home against Haverford on Saturday. Game time is 3 p.m.
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