Box Score

Despite trailing for most of the game, the Albright College men's basketball team used some crucial bench scoring down the stretch to defeat Valley Forge Christian College 80-69, Monday in a semifinal at the Moravian Greyhound Starters Classic.

Pedro Perez and Dave Singleton came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points each as the Lions' reserves contributed 36 total points. Senior Shane Irwin had 11 and classmate Derek Hall turned in his customary double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Down 54-52 late in the game, the Lions went on an 18-6 run that put them firmly control of the contest. After his three-pointer had tied it at 52-52, Perez answered a VFCC basket by diving for a loose ball on Albright's ensuing possession- one that ultimately led to a Zach Benjamin put-back to squares things up again.

Benjamin and Perez continued to make things happen as the former hit Hall with a no-look bounce pass for them and the latter swished a three to put the Lions ahead 59-56.

Singleton, a junior transfer from Marquette, completed and-ones on back-to-back possessions and Albright was suddenly ahead by seven. Perez hit yet another three-pointer, this time in transition, to give the Lions a double-digit lead at 70-60.

After an 8-0 VFCC run put Albright in a 40-32 hole early in the second half, the Lions responded with a lightning quick 9-0 run.

Kyle Jordan's free throw was followed by Cornell Mickens' jumper, and sophomore Sam Marrella had a steal and lay-in to make it 40-37. Hall scored on a trailing run and Marrella's nice bounce pass led to Jordan's free throws that erased the deficit and put Albright in the lead.

Marrella then made a great defensive play, diving to knock the ball away on a 2-on-1, but the Patriots recovered to snap Albright's run on their next possession.

Irwin had scored Albright's first seven points of the game as he spotted his side a 7-6 lead after draining a three on the Lions' opening possession and then adding two drives. It was the final time that Albright would lead in a frustrating first half.

Valley Forge scored seven unanswered points to go up 16-9 before the Red and White answered with a Singleton free throw and put-back by Benjamin.

Benjamin soon scored again on a nice pass from Irwin that left him all alone under the basket, and Perez finished a nice follow-up on the break. VFCC stayed ahead however with three-pointers from Lance Harris and Donnell Davis.

Marrella hit Mickens with an impressive pass to make it 26-24 Valley Forge, and Albright would then pull level on Reuel Moore's fast break bucket. The Patriots led 38-32 at halftime after scoring the period's final three baskets.

VFCC's Latrell Alford had a game-high 17 points, with Michael Stum adding 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Albright (8-3 overall) will now play host Moravian in tomorrow's 7:30 PM final. It will be the third tournament championship game of the season for the Lions, after they won their own Tip-Off Tournament and recently finished second in the Crowne Plaza Holiday Tournament.