Senior forward Brian O’Donnell added 12 points and seven rebounds and junior guard Nick Alfier and sophomore forward Patrick ClabbY chipped in eight points apiece as the Royals won their sixth straight game to improve to 8-2. David Henninger came off the bench to lead the Falcons, now 8-2, with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds and Jared Yoder added 14 points.
The Royals connected of 51.7 percent of their field goal attempts in the second half (15 of 29) to shake off an 8-for-26 effort (30.8 percent) in the opening 20 minutes of play. Despite struggling in the first-half, Scranton still led 26-20 at intermission.
Arnold, who scored 30 points in two games, was named the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP) and was joined on the all-tournament team by O’Donnell and Cannon. Arnold has also scored in double figures in his last three games and five times this year. His 17 points was two shy of his season-high 19 against Albright on December 11.
The Royals will host the Crusaders of Susquehanna in the opening round of the Radisson Invitational at the John J. Long, S.J, Center this Saturday, January 8, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The first game of the tournament features CUNY-York College taking on the United States Merchant Marine Academy at 1:00 p.m.
MESSIAH COLLEGE (8-2) HENNINGER, David 7-16 3-4 17; YODER, Jared 6-7 1-2 14; KING, Steve 4-11 1-1 9; CARTER, Dave 2-4 2-2 7; McCULLOUGH, Quinn 2-7 0-0 5; BOYD, Jonathan 1-2 0-0 3; HENNINGER, Matt 1-5 0-0 2; AKINNAGBE, Femi 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 7-9 57. THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (8-2) Darren Cannon 5-11 3-4 17; Randy Arnold 5-12 5-6 17; Brian O'Donnell 3-8 6-10 12; Nick Alfier 2-2 2-4 8; Patrick Clabby 3-7 2-4 8; Bill Burke 1-6 0-0 2; Justin Freid 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-47 18-28 64. Messiah College............... 20 37 - 57 University of Scranton........ 26 38 - 64 3-point goals-Messiah College 4-21 (BOYD, Jonathan 1-2; McCULLOUGH, Quinn 1-6; CARTER, Dave 1-2; YODER, Jared 1-1; AKINNAGBE, Femi 0-1; HENNINGER, Matt 0-3; KING, Steve 0-5; HENNINGER, David 0-1), University of Scranton 8-16 (Darren Cannon 4-7; Randy Arnold 2-3; Nick Alfier 2-2; Bill Burke 0-1; Patrick Clabby 0-2; Brian O'Donnell 0-1). Fouled out--Messiah College-None, University of Scranton-None. Rebounds-Messiah College 36 (HENNINGER, David 13), University of Scranton 30 (Brian O'Donnell 7). Assists-Messiah College 13 (McCULLOUGH, Quinn 5), University of Scranton 10 (Patrick Clabby 3). Total fouls-Messiah College 21, University of Scranton 11. A-33