READING, Pa. – DeJuan Smith, Omari Ringgold and Evan Dunn each scored 13 points, but Alvernia rallied to defeat Albright 73-67 in the Lions season finale on Tuesday in the Physical Education Center.
 
Albright's loss, combined with victories by both Widener and Stevenson, eliminated the Lions from the MAC Commonwealth Tournament chase. Albright finished the year with a 10-15 overall record and a 7-9 record in conference play.
 
Albright outshot the Crusaders 46.9 percent to 42.3 percent, but the Crusaders outscored the Lions 23-4 from the free throw line.
 
Smith posted a double-double for the Lions as he also grabbed 15 rebounds. He added five assists and a steal.
 
Seniors Evan Ward and Vince Lombardi played in their final games in an Albright uniform on Tuesday. Ward ended his career by scoring 12 points and collecting nine rebounds, while Lombardi had six points, six rebounds and an assist.
 
Alvernia, which clinched the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament, improved to 15-9 overall and 11-4 in conference play.
 
Marquis Marshall scored a career-high 34 points to lead the Crusaders, while Alex Shippen chipped in with 17 points.
 
Albright used a 5-0 run to take a double-digit lead midway through the first half.
 
Following a jumper by Alvernia's Mike Miller, the Lions responded with a layup by Smith and a three-point play by Dunn when he was fouled on a dunk to extend the lead to 25-15 with 6:13 to play in the first half.
 
Marshall answered with a three-pointer for the Crusaders, but another dunk by Dunn and a layup by Lombardi gave the Lions their largest lead of the game at 29-18 with 4:18 to play in the half.
 
Alvernia responded with a 12-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Charles Cooper, to take a 30-29 lead with 1:01 left in the half.
 
Ringgold gave Albright a 31-30 lead at the intermission with a layup with 36 seconds to play.
 
A dunk and a jumper by Dunn gave Albright a 37-32 lead at the 17:43 mark of the second half.
 
Alvernia used a 7-2 run to tie the game at 39-39 with 14:27 to play in the game.
 
Alvernia then used a late run to seize control of the game.
 
The Crusaders broke a 50-50 tie with an 8-0 run that gave Alvernia a 58-50 lead with 5:37 left to play in the game.
 
Alvernia made 6-of-8 free throw attempts down the stretch to hold off the Lions.