Full Game Notes

LiveStats
Live Video

The Albright College men's basketball team hosts its biggest rival in Commonwealth Conference action Saturday, and motivations will be high after just two points separated the Lions and the Alvernia Crusaders in tiebreakers for a playoff spot last season.

All-Time Series

Alvernia holds a slim 12-11 advantage in a rivalry that only dates back to the 1988-89 season. The series includes a 111-110 double-overtime victory for Albright in 2010; that game took place in the Bollman Center.

Previous Meeting

The Lions grabbed the lead with a 9-0 run midway through the second half and made it last in a tight 65-57 victory over Alvernia in the Bollman Center.

Sophomore Reuel Moore was huge down the stretch and finished with 14 points, all in the second half. Senior Derek Hall turned in a big double-double in a battle with one of the conference's best big men (Alvernia's Cory Boone), notching 16 points and 17 rebounds. Junior Dave Singleton also had a double-double, with 12 points and 10 boards, while sophomore Kyle Jordan added 10 points and four blocks.

The victory ultimately had huge playoff implications as the fourth Commonwealth playoff spot came down to the two Reading teams and amazingly the Lions got in at the expense of their biggest rival on the eighth tie-breaker. The two squads were 1-1 against each other and somehow had matching records against each of the other six Commonwealth teams (the tie-breaker is record against each team in the league in descending order). That meant the playoff spot came down to head-to-head point differential, and Albright followed up a six-point away loss to the Crusaders with that eight-point win in the Bollman Center.

Albright College Lions (5-0, 1-0)

Junior Pedro Perez scored 13 second half points and totaled seven in a key 10-0 run as the Lions defeated Arcadia 84-73, Wednesday in the Red and White's Commonwealth Conference opener. The Lion junior had provided the killer blow last season in Glenside, hitting the game-winning three-pointer in an 85-84 double-overtime thriller.

Perez finished with 15 points on the day, while freshman Andre Marshall had 12 on 5-of-9 shooting. Singleton totaled 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists.    

Singleton has come within range of a triple-double on several occasions already this season, and is averaging 17.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest.

Alvernia University Crusaders (1-1, 0-1)

The Crusaders have played just two games so far this season, beating Freedom opponent Delaware Valley but losing their Commonwealth opener, 75-62 at Lycoming.

Against Lyco, junior Kahlil Bennett led the Crusaders for the second straight game with 17 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Bennett had scored 22 in the season opener.  Brian Parker (10 points, 15 rebounds) and Terrance Bridgers (10 points, 10 boards) both added double-doubles.

Head Coaches

Rick Ferry begins his 12th year with a 5-0 start for the Lions in 2012-13. Under Ferry's direction the Lions have participated in six Commonwealth Tournament playoffs, winning the Commonwealth Tournament Championship and claiming NCAA Tournament berths in 2003-04 and 2009-10.  Ferry was named Commonwealth Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2003-04 and 2004-05).

Mike Miller is in his ninth season in charge at Alvernia, following 10 seasons as an assistant coach. While in Reading, he has participated in four total conference championships (Pennsylvania Athletic Conference) and six NCAA tournament berths.

Video/Audio Streaming

Albright basketball is now providing live video streaming of a majority of home games; contests are available for $5.95 for a single game or $19.95 for a three-month pass. Bob McCool and Steve Degler are still featured on play-by-play, with the pair providing free online radio coverage of most Albright away contests.