Glenside, Pa. - An 11-0 run to start the second half and some clutch plays down the stretch led the Arcadia University Knights (16-10) to an 85-83 win over the Stevenson University Mustangs (16-10) in the first round of the MAC Commonwealth Conference Playoffs tonight. Tonight's playoff victory was the first for the Knights since 2000, when they won a PAC quarterfinal game. Khalief Trawick scored 23 points in front of a raucous crowd to lead the Knights. Arcadia will now head to Alvernia for a semifinal game on Wednesday night.

Arcadia starting strong getting a stop on their first defensive possession and then scored four straight points. Stevenson found their offensive and the score was tied at six at the 17:01 mark. The Knights were then up 11-8, but seven straight by the Mustangs gave them their first lead at 14-11. A three-point play by Khalief Trawick tied the game at 14 with 14:27 to play in the first half.

Stevenson then used a 16-3 run to take a 30-17 lead at the 9:28 mark. Arcadia tried to cut into the lead, but could only get as close as five points twice. The Mustangs scored the final basket of the half with just over one second on the clock and went into the break with a 47-36 lead.

Trawick scored 12 points to lead the Knights in the first half. Christian Roberts scored a game-high 17 points for Stevenson. The Mustangs shot a blistering 59% from the field and 58% from behind the arc. Arcadia shot 41% from the field and did not make a three-pointer. Arcadia won the board battle 20-15 and the team's combined for just 10 turnovers.

Arcadia started the second half on an 11-0 run that tied the game at 47 with 16:19 to play. The score was then tied at 52 and 54, but a John Landro three gave the Knights a 57-54 lead with 13:46 on the clock. The game was again tied at 59 and then again at 61 at the 10:16 mark.

The Knights then trailed 64-61, but a 6-2 spurt them both out front 67-66 with just over seven minutes to play. Stevenson then scored four in a row to go ahead 70-67 with 6:13 to play. The game was tied at 70, 72, 74 and 76.

Aaron Lee-Webb scored on a fast break with 1:14 to play to put the Knights up 78-76. The Knights forced a turnover, Trawick hit a pair of free throws, the Knights forced another turnover and Travis Saltus made two free throws for an 82-76 lead with 26.7 on the clock. Stevenson got to within two in the final seconds, but a pair of Saltus free throws put the Knights up 85-81 with 14.4 on the clock.

Trawick was 9-16 from the field and had eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Saltus scored 19 points, while Aaron-Lee Webb and Jose Figueroa each scored 11 points. Tyson Jacobs scored 25 to lead the Mustangs. Stevenson shot 49% from the field and Arcadia shot 46%. The Knights won the board battle 44-31 and forced 14 turnovers which turned into 25 points.

Arcadia will head to Alvernia on Wednesday night for the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals. Tip-off is slated for 7pm in Reading.