POTSDAM, N.Y.—University of Scranton sophomore point-guard Randy Arnold (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) is on a roll.
After earning MVP honors in leading the Royals to the Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament championship last Saturday at Susquehanna University, Arnold poured in a career-high 24 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field as Scranton improved to 3-0 on the season with a 70-55 victory over Clarkson University at Alumni Gymnasium Tuesday evening.
The Royals, who also received 13 points, five rebounds and two assists from freshman guard Ryan FitzPatrick (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) and 11 points from junior guard and tri-captain Darren Cannon (Paupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area), made six of their first seven shots from the field to bolt out to a 15-6 lead in the opening five minutes of play. Arnold finished with 16 first-half points on five of eight shooting from the field as the Royals led 34-28 at intermission.
Arnold and FitzPatrick combined for 13 points during a four-minute span to open the second-half as Scranton went on a 13-2 spurt to extend its lead to 17, 47-30. Scranton’s lead was never in serious jeopardy the rest of the way. The Royals connected on 13 of 23 field goal attempts (56.5 percent) in the second-half to finish 51.1 percent (24 of 47) for the game.
Scranton’s 3-0 start is its best since 1999-2000. Arnold’s previous high of 19 points came in a 74-69 overtime win against Albright College on December 11, 2004, at the Long Center. E.J. Harrison led the Golden Knights, now 1-2, with 12 points and Brandon Rigg-Reives added 10.
The Royals will take on the Cardinals of Catholic University in Washington, DC, this Saturday, November 26, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on WUSR, 99.5 FM, and over the Internet at www.scranton.edu/wusr, with Dean Corwin calling all the action.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (3-0) Randy Arnold 9-14 6-7 24; Ryan FitzPatrick 5-7 0-0 13; Darren Cannon 3-5 2-2 11; Mike Kreuter 4-8 2-2 10; Patrick Clabby 1-3 3-4 5; Bill Burke 0-2 2-2 2; Mike McGowan 1-6 0-0 2; Tom Bicknell 1-1 0-0 2; Paul Biagioli 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 24-47 16-19 70. CLARKSON UNIVERSITY (1-2) EJ Harrison 5-8 1-2 12; Brandon Rigg-Reives 3-7 1-2 10; Brian Salanger 3-10 1-2 8; Ryan Smith 2-2 3-5 7; Erick Vigansky 2-4 1-1 5; Russ Vitallo 1-8 2-2 4; John Chiero 2-3 0-0 4; Jon Youngmann 2-2 0-0 4; Will Zinsmeister 0-4 1-2 1; Kevin Bolduc 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 10-16 55. Scranton........... 34 36 - 70 Clarkson........... 28 27 - 55 3-point goals-Scranton University 6-13 (Ryan FitzPatrick 3-4; Darren Cannon 3-5; Mike McGowan 0-4), Clarkson University 5-15 (Brandon Rigg-Reives 3-4; Brian Salanger 1-6; EJ Harrison 1-2; Will Zinsmeister 0-1; Erick Vigansky 0-2). Fouled out--Scranton University-None, Clarkson University-None. Rebounds-Scranton University 27 (Ryan FitzPatrick 5), Clarkson University 34 (Ryan Smith 7). Assists-Scranton University 17 (Patrick Clabby 5; Randy Arnold 5), Clarkson University 12 (Kevin Bolduc 4). Total fouls-Scranton 16, Clarkson 18. A-105