HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team gave No. 15 Swarthmore all it wanted and then some on Wednesday night before falling by a 65-60 score in overtime. After leading on just one occasion in the regulation time, the Fords scored first in the overtime session, but saw Swarthmore run off the next eight points before holding on for a Centennial Conference victory.
Despite both defenses holding the opposition to around 35% shooting from the floor, Joe Scibelli recorded his 14th career double-double – a mark that leads all active Centennial Conference players. He scored 18 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for his second such effort this season. Kahlil Garnes (16 points) and Kyle Goldfarb (10 points) also reached double figures on the scoring sheet for the Fords. Swarthmore put four of its five starters in double figures for the vast majority of its offense as Zach Yonda led the way with 19 points.
The opening half saw Swarthmore build a lead of as many as 10 points at 26-16. However, the Fords roared back with the next eight points, five of which were scored by Garnes who finished with 11 during the opening half. Haverford took its only lead of regulation with 1:16 to play before the break as Joe Scibelli knocked down a triple to give his side a 29-28 lead before the Garnet carried a 33-31 lead into the locker room.
Swarthmore opened up its second double digit lead of the night by scoring the first nine points of the second half. But once again, the Fords would not go down without a fight. Bordering right around a 10 point differential, the Garnet's lead grew to a game-high 13 points after a three-pointer from reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Year Cam Wiley with 6:14 to play, making the score 54-41.
Nevertheless, the Fords scored 14 of the final 15 points during regulation, tying the game with 1:28 left in the second half on another trey from Scibelli. Haverford hit three treys during the final minute of that half to tie the score. The Fords also had an additional settled possession to take the lead and one final half court heave as time was winding down, but were unable to find the game-winning points in the final minute.
Swarthmore won the opening tip of the overtime session, but the Fords scored first with Scibelli hitting a jumper just 55 seconds into the extra session. That two point lead went on to be Haverford's largest of the night. However, it would not last as Swarthmore made its final three field goals during that period and also took 11 trips to the free throw line.
Despite the Garnet shooting under 49% at the free throw line on the evening, and going just 4-of-11 in the overtime period, those 17 points at the line proved the difference as the Fords made just 11 trips in total all game long. Haverford outscored their rivals from the field with a 22-21 edge in field goals, including a commanding 30-18 advantage in scoring from beyond the arc.
Men's basketball will next play its second of three straight home contests this Saturday against another nationally-ranked foe as No. 21 Franklin & Marshall visits the Gooding '84 for a 3 p.m. tip. The matchup with the Diplomats will mark the beginning of the second half of the conference slate. The Fords are currently in a three-way tie for seventh place in the conference standings hallway through the conference slate. If they were to finish in that position it would mark the team's highest placement since the 2010-11 team which went to the Centennial Conference Tournament.