Dec 01, 2010
BOX SCORE
Reading, Pa. (Dec. 1, 2010) - "I don't care what you win by or how you win."
The final count was 50-44. The quote was from Alvernia University (4-1, 1-0) head coach Mike Miller after his team opened the Commonwealth Conference with a win at crosstown rival Albright. It was the second straight season the Crusaders have opened the conference schedule with a win over the preseason favorite on the road -- last year it was an 88-80 win at Elizabethtown.
Last year also featured a 111-110 highlight-filled, double-overtime loss at the Bollman Center. Wednesday night had far fewer highlights, but a much-preferred result.
"First league game, at Albright, we knew it was going to be a dog fight," continued Miller.
The fight was there for the taking until the final seconds when Alvernia junior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) puncuated the win with his second dunk of the night establishing the final margin.
Nerney finished with a respetable line of 10 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and a block. He was the only starter for either team to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor going 5-for-9. Alvernia held Albright to under 30 percent from the floor including an astounding 1-for-20 from the 3-point arc. Only once last year did the Lions finish a game with less than five 3s. They posted four games with double-digit 3s as a team.
Senior Matt Ashcroft hit the Lions' only 3 off a screen near the right corner in the second half. The Crusaders didn't fare much better. Junior Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) banked home the only one for the guests in 13 total attempts from the team. Thirty-three total shots from behind the arc and only two went through.
Albright, which led by as many as six points in the first half, held the lead for the final time with five minutes to go in the first half. Alvernia senior Charles Swiggett (Chester, Pa./Chester) and Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) combined for six straight points to turn a three point deficit into a three point lead and the Crusaders had enough the rest of the way to hold off the Lions.
Nerney scored on a driving layup to give Alvernia a 25-20 lead, its largest of the first half, with 1:53 on the clock and Albright sophomore Cornell Mickens hit 1-of-2 free throws to leave Alvernia with a four-point lead at the break. Mickens was the only player to reach double figures for the Lions with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Thompson's 3 put Alvernia up 38-30, its largest lead of the game, and it took Albright until the final minute to move within one possession. A layup from Shane Irwin with 41 seconds left pulled the Lions to within three, 47-44, and after one Swiggett free throw, Ashcroft missed a 3 that led to Nerney's fast-break dunk.
Alvernia continues the conference schedule hosting Lebanon Valley on Saturday.
Alvernia 50, Albright 44
Reading, Pa. (Dec. 1, 2010) - "I don't care what you win by or how you win."
The final count was 50-44. The quote was from Alvernia University (4-1, 1-0) head coach Mike Miller after his team opened the Commonwealth Conference with a win at crosstown rival Albright. It was the second straight season the Crusaders have opened the conference schedule with a win over the preseason favorite on the road -- last year it was an 88-80 win at Elizabethtown.
Last year also featured a 111-110 highlight-filled, double-overtime loss at the Bollman Center. Wednesday night had far fewer highlights, but a much-preferred result.
"First league game, at Albright, we knew it was going to be a dog fight," continued Miller.
The fight was there for the taking until the final seconds when Alvernia junior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) puncuated the win with his second dunk of the night establishing the final margin.
Nerney finished with a respetable line of 10 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and a block. He was the only starter for either team to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor going 5-for-9. Alvernia held Albright to under 30 percent from the floor including an astounding 1-for-20 from the 3-point arc. Only once last year did the Lions finish a game with less than five 3s. They posted four games with double-digit 3s as a team.
Senior Matt Ashcroft hit the Lions' only 3 off a screen near the right corner in the second half. The Crusaders didn't fare much better. Junior Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) banked home the only one for the guests in 13 total attempts from the team. Thirty-three total shots from behind the arc and only two went through.
Albright, which led by as many as six points in the first half, held the lead for the final time with five minutes to go in the first half. Alvernia senior Charles Swiggett (Chester, Pa./Chester) and Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) combined for six straight points to turn a three point deficit into a three point lead and the Crusaders had enough the rest of the way to hold off the Lions.
Nerney scored on a driving layup to give Alvernia a 25-20 lead, its largest of the first half, with 1:53 on the clock and Albright sophomore Cornell Mickens hit 1-of-2 free throws to leave Alvernia with a four-point lead at the break. Mickens was the only player to reach double figures for the Lions with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Thompson's 3 put Alvernia up 38-30, its largest lead of the game, and it took Albright until the final minute to move within one possession. A layup from Shane Irwin with 41 seconds left pulled the Lions to within three, 47-44, and after one Swiggett free throw, Ashcroft missed a 3 that led to Nerney's fast-break dunk.
Alvernia continues the conference schedule hosting Lebanon Valley on Saturday.
Alvernia 50, Albright 44