GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy Men's Basketball Team opened their 2017-18 season with a 74-62 win over Arcadia to capture the Battle of Route 309 title for the second year in a row.

Five players finished in double figures for the Griffins, led by a game-high 19 from Courtney Cubbage. Will Davis kicked in 14, Matt Sommers with 12 while Rip Engel and Rich Dunham each added 10 as GMercyU came back from a 5-0 deficit to start the game and would not trail the rest of the way, leading by as much as 23 in the second.

Brandon Thompson netted 13 for the visitors, with Phil Pierfy and Jon Lott each scoring 10 apiece.

The Knights scored five points within the first minute of the first half, but Engel answered on a bucket inside followed by a three off a steal from Davis. Sommers fed Davis in the post, where his short jumper went and a foul was called. He would miss the ensuing free throw, but that play jumpstarted a 13-2 run to open up a double-digit lead.

That lead grew to as much as 15 on two occasions, the last coming at the 3:59 mark on a jumpshot from Chris Lopez for a 33-18 advantage. GMercyU took a 36-22 lead at the half.

Dunham's bucket capped of a 7-0 spurt to give the Griffins a 20-point lead (49-29) at the 15:42 mark.  Their lead went as high as 23 (55-32) with 11:17 left off a Sommers jumper. Dunham added driving layups to bring the score to 57-36 with ten minutes to go in the game. Arcadia tried to get back in the groove and slowly climb back into the contest. A 72-55 score was whittled down as the Knights closed the gap, to just a 10-point contest with 27 seconds to play, but the Griffins were able to lock it up with two free throws at the end.

After shooting 41% in the first half, Gwynedd used a 54% (13-of-24) performance in the second and would hold the Knights to under 40% for the game. The teams were even in rebounds (37-37) and turnovers (18-18).

Dunham grabbed a game high and career high eight rebounds while adding five assists.  Engel dished out six dimes while Davis and Sommers each had three steals. Chris Lopez registered three blocks in a total team effort.

The Griffins return to action this Saturday the Rose City Classic hosted by Drew University. Gwynedd takes on New Jersey City on Saturday and will face the host Rangers or Brooklyn College on Sunday.