Box Score

In a compelling local clash, the Albright College men's basketball team couldn't quite overcome a packed home crowd and a 30-0 free throw disparity, losing 67-61 at Alvernia on Wednesday night.

Senior Derek Hall was 10-of-19 from the field and totaled 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Juniors Dave Singleton (12 points) and Cornell Mickens (10 points) were also in double figures for the Lions.

Albright showed great heart in fighting back from a late eight-point deficit to tie the game heading into the final two minutes. Alvernia's Brian Nerney (7-of-12, 18 points) had caused trouble in transition all night, and scored again on the break before following that with two more points to stretch the gap to eight, with six-and-a-half minutes to play.

Hall completed a drop step for two, making it 59-53 Alvernia, and Kyle Jordan stole the ball after a Crusader defensive rebound for another basket. The deficit was cut to two when Hall popped out and got a good bounce off the rim, halving his side's deficit.

The Crusaders converted their 14th and 15th free throw points of the game on their next two possessions, but Albright came all the way back to tie after a tough fadeaway by Singleton and a strong finish by Jordan to square things up at 61-61.

The Lions couldn't quite complete their battle through adversity however, as Alvernia's Josh Vargas hit an outstanding scoop shot that ended up being the winner, and big man Cory Boone drove another nail in the coffin with a finish the next time down the floor.

Alvernia had grabbed its second lead of day with 18:34 remaining in the second half, on a pair of free throws by Boone. An Albright turnover then led to Nerney's dunk and a three-point Crusader advantage. Nerney again went strong to the rim to put the Lions in a five-point hole, before Hall broke the slump with a put back.

Albright led 31-30 after a tight first half where both teams had to fight for every basket. Hall had his left-handed baby hook working all day, converting the shot to put the Lions ahead 7-4 and then 10-5. He later hit a lefty hook from the baseline to keep the visitors in the lead, 29-23.

The Albright center had opened the scoring with a 12-foot jumper, before Shane Irwin drained a long two from the right side to make it 4-2. The Lions continued to make tough shots as Mickens drove to the left and hit a double-clutch lay-up from under the hoop ,

The Crusaders led just once in the opening period. Chris Davis' steal led to Vargas' easy basket and made the score 10-9 Albright, before Terrance Bridgers followed with a baseline fallaway that gave the hosts an 11-10 advantage. Hall drained an open three to answer immediately.

Hall scored again on the next possession, forcing a shot through his defender after Singleton got into the lane and fed him. He then had a beautiful snap bounce-pass to Irwin all alone under the basket for a 17-13 Lion lead. Albright led by as much as eight in the half, but Vargas' late three pulled Alvernia to within a point heading into the break.

Alvernia stretched its starting lineup to the limit to grab the victory. Boone (14 points, seven rebounds) played the entire forty minutes, while Vargas (17 points), Davis and Stefan Thompson sat out for a combined seven minutes.

The Lions (10-6 overall) continue to play very well at times, but are now in a 1-4 hole in Commonwealth Conference play (with all four losses coming by single-digit deficits). Albright faces a must-win game on Saturday, at home to Lebanon Valley at 4 p.m.