Box Score
READING, Pa. - In what some are calling the greatest game ever played at Albright College, junior #Zac Shaeffer# recorded a career-best 44 points, and #Adam Van Zelst# hit the game-winning jumper in double overtime to push the first place Lions (19-4/10-3 CC) to a 111-110 double OT win over Alvernia University (15-9/6-7 CC) Tuesday evening in the Bollman Center in front of over 2,572 crazy fans.
Tuesday's contest marked the first time ever in this rivalry that both teams have both scored over 100 points and it evened the all-time record between the programs at 9-9. In total there were 15 lead changes and on 14 different occasions the score was dead-locked, including the last second jumper by Alvernia's EJ Logan to send the game into the first overtime, and a pair of free-throws by Shaeffer to send it into double OT.
Shaeffer's singe-game performance was just 10 points shy of tying the all-time single game scoring record set by John Scholl '69. On the night Shaeffer was 13-for-18 from the field, 6-for-9 from three-point range, and 12-for-13 at the charity strip. Probably the two biggest free-throws of the night came at the end of the first overtime, when Shaeffer looking for the last second three-pointer was fouled right as time expired.
The junior who ranks amongst the best in the conference in a variety of categories stepped to the line and made two of his three attempts to even the score at 98-98 forcing the second overtime period.
From the start the contest was a back-and-forth battle between the cross-town rivals. Just when Albright gained some breathing room, Alvernia came battling back, and when the Crusaders thought the game was theirs, the Lions clawed their way right back as well.
However in the second OT Head Coach
Rick Ferry decided that he and his team were going to end this contest with a victory. So with about five seconds left on the clock Van Zelst was inbounded the ball. He then dribbled it the length of the court and just as time expired put the game-winner. Once the ball hit the net it was sheer pandemonium as the entire fan section rushed the floor trampling Van Zelst in the process.
For the senior guard his game-winning performance was capped off with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, which included one three-pointer. Also producing for the Lions in the huge victory was #Jeff Sparrow# who notched 19 points, followed by #Derek Hall# who had 11, and #Matt Ashcroft# who had 10.
Overall the Lions shot an impressive 51.4% (36-70) on the night. Behind the arc the Lions shot 42.9% (12-28) and at the line they shot 84.4% (27-32). Alvernia's performance Tuesday evening was also an incredible team effort as the Crusader shot 54.3% from the field (38-70), 58.8% from three-point range (10-17), and 68.6% at the line (24-35).
The Crusaders led the night in rebounding totaling 43 boards as compared to Albright's 34. The Lions dished a total of 16 assists, nine of which belonged to Van Zelst. Proving to be another key factor in Albright's win was their ability to possess the ball, allowing just 12 turnovers in 250 minutes of action. Defensively the Lions totaled 12 steals and four blocks as well.
With Tuesday's win it will guarantees that Albright will host at least one game of the Commonwealth Conference tournament which is scheduled to begin next Wednesday. The Lions will return to action and look to claim the regular season championship this Saturday at 4 p.m. when they face Messiah. Prior to the start of Saturday's match-up the Lions will honor their senior members.
