GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. - Freshman John McArthur posted his first career double-double with a season-high 17 points and 13 rebounds off the bench, but the Immaculata University men's basketball team (6-9, 2-2) came up just short in extending its win streak to five at Gwynedd Mercy (12-5, 4-0) Saturday afternoon, falling 67-64. The Mighty Macs and Griffins were locked into a back-and-forth battle after coming out of halftime tied at 29, but IU came up empty on its final possession with a chance to tie, allowing the Griffins to remain unbeaten in Atlantic East Conference play.

Mike Piekarski logged his 12th double-figure scoring game of the season with 13, while Morgan Bailey poured in a season-high 12 in the effort.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty Macs were largely in control from the onset of Saturday's matchup, as IU took its first lead of the game at 15:42 mark of the first half and would not trail the rest of the way. The Macs led by as many as 11 in the half, but a 16-5 Gwynedd run over the final 5:33 had the two sides knotted at 29 heading into the break.
-McArthur recorded a game-high 10 off the bench in the opening period on 5-of-8 shooting from the field while also hauling in nine boards.
-The second half featured a back-and-forth battle, as neither side was able to extend a lead more than five points in the final 20 minutes of regulation. With the Macs down one at the nine-minute mark, Brandon McCullough hit jumpers on consecutive possessions to knot the game at 50. After Gwynedd answered right back with a pair of field goals to sandwich a Piekarski jumper, Asa Kitchen drained a deep three to give the Macs a 55-54 lead with just over five minutes remaining.
-The Griffins rallied back to tie the game at 60, but fouled Bailey on the ensuing possession in the paint, allowing the Macs to retake a 62-60 lead with a pair of free throws with only 2:40 left on the game clock.
-Gwynedd responded with a 7-0 run over the next 1:43 to take a five-point lead, but a pair of Piekarski free throws and an empty Griffin possession positioned the Macs down three with 26 seconds remaining. However, Immaculata was unable to draw even on its final possession.

TEAM COMPARISON
-Saturday's Atlantic East Game of the Week lived up to the billing, as the game featured seven lead changes, mostly occurring in the second half.
-The Macs put together a 23-of-56 (41.1%) day from the field, while holding the Griffins to 24-of-61 (39.3%).
-IU was consistent yet again from the free throw line, knocking down 13-of-16 (81.3%) of their attempts.
-Immaculata had 25 of their points come from off the bench, opposite Gwynedd's eight.
-The Macs controlled battle on the boards, 39-31.
-Gwynedd Mercy forced 16 IU turnovers and scored 15 points on those opportunities, while only committing 11 turnovers themselves.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Points: McArthur 17, Piekarski 13, Bailey 12
-Assists: Piekarski 4, McCullough/Ambrose/Kitchen 2
-Rebounds: McArthur 13, Piekarski 7, Bailey 6

UP NEXT
Immaculata (6-9, 2-2 Atlantic East) returns home to Alumnae Hall Monday night to host Valley Forge at 7 p.m.