BOX SCORE
Reading, Pa. (Feb. 15, 2011) – Alvernia University (16-5, 11-2) junior Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) scored on a post move out of a timeout sparking a late 8-2 run and the Crusaders held off Albright College (15-9, 7-6) Tuesday evening in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action in a packed Physical Education Center.
"Booney's basket was real big," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller after his team locked up the top seed for the conference playoffs. "I called the timeout and said let's get the ball to Booney, and he scored to put us up four. Big basket."
Albright actually answered it with a layup from senior guard Zac Shaeffer to cut the gap to two points 69-67 with 2:47 to play.
Alvernia senior Tad Gillis (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), who finished with a game-high 21 points, penetrated for a layup and the Crusaders got three straight stops to seal the game.
"Our defense, which has been winning games for us all year, has been constant," said Miller.
The defense watched Albright senior Matt Ashcroft take an ill-advised 3 with 90 seconds left down four then Boone and junior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) challenged back-to-back layup attempts from Derek Hall and Shaeffer leading to misses.
Boone was fouled after rebounding the Shaeffer miss and hit a pair of free throws for a six point lead.
Albright had one final chance on a 3-point attempt from Shane Irwin, who had a tremendous game on all shots inside 20 feet, but Irwin was off on his attempt and Nerney put the game away with a dunk on the break.
Gillis added six assists with just one turnover to his line and three other starters reached double figures for the Crusaders. Fellow senior Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) hit four 3s, his best effort since knocking down five in a loss to Gettysburg, and finished with 16 points. Nerney had 14 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, and Boone finished with 13 points, eight boards and tied a career-high with six assits.
As a team the Crusaders handed out 21 assists on 29 buckets to just four turnovers. Easily their best ratio of the year, especially considering it was the first time with less than 11 give-aways.
Junior Derek Hall led the Lions with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Irwin finished with 17 points and 11 boards. Ashcroft finished with 15 points. He had just one in the first half then found his stroke from the arc early in the second half hitting four 3s. Shaeffer finished the night with 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Alvernia established the only real control of the first half taking an eight point lead midway through on a Gillis jumper. After Albright cut it to one point 25-24, Gillis, Cornell and Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) all hit 3s in an 11-4 run. Thompson's 3 came on the Crusaders last possession of the half with 14 seconds left and Shaeffer answered it from well beyond the arc for a 36-31 halftime score.
Alvernia travels to Lebanon Valley College to wrap up the regular season schedule on Saturday. The two teams are already locked in at one and two for the playoffs and will host semifinal games next Wednesday.
The final two playoff spots will go to some combination of Albright, Elizabethtown, Widener, and Messiah.
Alvernia 75, Albright 70