Box Score

GLENSIDE, Pa. – Despite shooting over 53% on the night, men's basketball (15-7/7-4 CC) was never able to put away conference opponent Arcadia University (5-16/0-11 CC) as the host Knights managed to keep the game close in the final moments of Wednesday's contest. However, a game-high 25 points from Matt Ashcroft helped the Lions to secure 62-58 victory.

With Wednesday's win, the Lions moved into a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings alongside Lebanon Valley and Elizabethtown. The Dutchmen won their Wednesday match-up with Messiah, while Elizabethtown was handed their fourth conference loss of the year by Lycoming. Alvernia still remains the top team in the conference, despite having been blown out by Widener.

For Ashcroft his game-high performance was the result of 8-of-11 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 shooting at the line. Classmate Zac Shaeffer also added to the Lions much needed win, as he finished the night with 18 points. Shaeffer was 6-for-13 from the floor, which included three 3's. He was also 1-for-2 at the line.

Junior Derek Hall pulled down a game-high nine boards, while also finishing third on the team in scoring with 11 points. Defensively, Hall recorded his third straight game with three blocks.

Wednesday's match-up got off to a great start for the Lions as Ashcroft nailed both the opening jumper and the games first three. After that a quick 10-2 run by the Lions, gave them their first double-figure lead of the night.

However, Arcadia would never allow the Lions to take complete control of the game, as they had an answer for every Albright basket. With just over seven minutes left in the first half, the Knights cut Albright's then 11 point lead to down to four.

They eventually would tie the game at 30-30 with just 37 seconds left in the opening half. Luckily a Shaeffer three and a Jeff Sparrow lay-up would put the Lions up by five before they went into the locker room.

The second half started off just like the first, with Ashcroft scoring the first jumper and 3-pointer to make it a 10 point game. A Shaeffer 3-pointer from deep would give the Lions their first of three 11 point leads in the second half.

After their final 11 point lead, which was the result of an Ashcroft lay-up, with 13:29 left in the game, Arcadia's offense began to take over. A 9-1 run over the course of five minutes would put Arcadia to within three of the Lions.
Albright did manage to hang onto their slim lead, with key baskets and free throws from both Shaeffer and Ashcroft.

Men's basketball returns to the Bollman Center this Saturday for a 4 p.m. showdown with Lebanon Valley College. Prior to the start of that game, the Lions will honor their three senior members.