Box Score
READING, Pa. – In a back-and-forth game that could have went either way, it was the first place Crusaders of Alvernia University (16-5/11-2 Commonwealth) that would have the final say as they handed men's basketball (15-9/7-6 Commonwealth) a tough 75-70 conference loss Tuesday evening in the Physical Education Center.
With Tuesday's loss, the Lions have put themselves in a must-win situation for Saturday. The red and white need to defeat Messiah to keep their postseason dreams alive. Alvernia has secured the number one seed with the one and regular season title. Lebanon Valley has earned the number two seed with their convincing 74-55 win at Elizabethtown College. Elizabethtown, Albright, and Widener will battle it out on Saturday for the final two spots in this year's tournament. Elizabethtown will travel Arcadia, while Widener will host Lycoming College. The Lions will be on the road at Messiah College for a 4 p.m. match-up.
For Albright and Alvernia, four of their starting five finished in double-figures, with
Derek Hall leading the Lions with his double-double of 21 points and 10 boards. Alvernia was fueled by Tad Gillis' 21 point performance which pushed the Crusaders to their first conference regular season championship.
Shane Irwin also finished with a double-double as the junior scored 17 points, while pulling down 11 boards.
Matt Ashcroft ended the night with 15 points, followed by
Zac Shaeffer who had 12.
Jeff Sparrow and
Cornell Mickens would combine for the final five Albright points respectively.
In what has become the rivalry in the Commonwealth Conference Albright shot a combined 46% on the night, while the host Crusaders shot just over 50% from the field. Albright led the contest in both 3-point shooting (38.4%) but it was Alvernia who led at the line barely shooting 72.7% as compared to Albright's 71.4%.
On the glass Albright held a +6 advantage (35-26), with 11 of those boards earned on the offensive side of the ball. Both squads showed great ball control allowing a mere 12 turnovers between the two respectively.
After an extremely close first half which had Alvernia holding a five point lead (36-31), the second half could have went either way. Perhaps the turning point of the contest was a huge dunk by junior center Corey Boone, which not only gave the Crusaders the lead but completely changed the intensity of the contest.
All five Crusaders starters played the entire second half. The Lions only sub of the second half came with just nine minutes left in the contest.
Men's basketball will play the biggest game of the season this Saturday when they travel to Messiah College for a 4 p.m. conference match-up.
