Feb 18, 2012
BOX SCORE
Williamsport, Pa. (Feb. 18, 2012) - Alvernia University (17-8, 8-6) defeated Lycoming College (18-7, 8-6) 68-60 Saturday afternoon but fell one game shy of the playoffs losing out on the three-way tiebreakers with Lycoming and Albright for the final two spots.
Senior Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) reached double figures for the eighth straight game and posted his fifth 20-plus point effort going for a game-high 26. He had all the Crusaders' makes from beyond the 3-point arc hitting six treys in 11 attempts. Fellow senior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) had his third double-double of the season netting 13 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Senior Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle) finished with 12 points and nine boards.
Lycoming was in position where a win would guarantee a spot in the playoffs, but put itself in a tenuous situation having to rely on other teams to get in. The Albright win over Widener--the second seed in the upcoming postseason--coupled with top-seeded Messiah's win over Elizabethtown and Lebanon Valley's win over Arcadia put Lycoming third by virtue of its 2-0 record against sixth-ranked LVC.
Had either of those last two games gone the other way, Albright would have found itself in third place on point differential among the three teams, and Alvernia would have snuck in past Lycoming also on point differential. Instead it's the Lions who get the fourth spot with a +2 point differential over Alvernia.
The Crusaders struggled to get things kick-started at Lycoming on Saturday missing their first seven shots from the floor and three from the free throw line. Thompson finally hit his first 3 over six minutes into the game, but fortunately Lycoming didn't fare much better and only held a 6-3 lead at that point.
Alvernia tied it at 8-all then again at 20-20 and scored the final five points of the half for a 25-22 lead at the break.
Thompson hit back-to-back 3s to cap a 14-4 run that opened the second half and the Crusaders never looked back posting the eight point win.
Things got a bit dicey down the stretch when Lycoming cut a 16-point deficit down to six with a 15-5 run made it 57-51 with 2:40 to play. To maximize its own chances at the postseason the Crusaders were aiming for a three-point win--to counter the two-point loss to the Warriors back in December--and had that thought in the back of their minds coming down the stretch.
Thompson, Nerney, and Josh Vargas (Allentown, Pa./Faith Christian Academy) hit two free throws apiece in the final 41 seconds to provide the insurance.
Anthony Martin led the Warriors with 19 points and Mike Bradley finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Commonwealth playoffs begin Wednesday with Albright visiting Messiah and Lycoming visiting Widener. Winners play for the title--and the NCAA automatic bid--next Saturday.
All is not lost for the Crusaders who have likely positioned themselves well enough for an ECAC bid. That bracket will be announced the Monday after the Commonwealth Championship.
Alvernia 68, Lycoming 60
Williamsport, Pa. (Feb. 18, 2012) - Alvernia University (17-8, 8-6) defeated Lycoming College (18-7, 8-6) 68-60 Saturday afternoon but fell one game shy of the playoffs losing out on the three-way tiebreakers with Lycoming and Albright for the final two spots.
Senior Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) reached double figures for the eighth straight game and posted his fifth 20-plus point effort going for a game-high 26. He had all the Crusaders' makes from beyond the 3-point arc hitting six treys in 11 attempts. Fellow senior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) had his third double-double of the season netting 13 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Senior Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle) finished with 12 points and nine boards.
Lycoming was in position where a win would guarantee a spot in the playoffs, but put itself in a tenuous situation having to rely on other teams to get in. The Albright win over Widener--the second seed in the upcoming postseason--coupled with top-seeded Messiah's win over Elizabethtown and Lebanon Valley's win over Arcadia put Lycoming third by virtue of its 2-0 record against sixth-ranked LVC.
Had either of those last two games gone the other way, Albright would have found itself in third place on point differential among the three teams, and Alvernia would have snuck in past Lycoming also on point differential. Instead it's the Lions who get the fourth spot with a +2 point differential over Alvernia.
The Crusaders struggled to get things kick-started at Lycoming on Saturday missing their first seven shots from the floor and three from the free throw line. Thompson finally hit his first 3 over six minutes into the game, but fortunately Lycoming didn't fare much better and only held a 6-3 lead at that point.
Alvernia tied it at 8-all then again at 20-20 and scored the final five points of the half for a 25-22 lead at the break.
Thompson hit back-to-back 3s to cap a 14-4 run that opened the second half and the Crusaders never looked back posting the eight point win.
Things got a bit dicey down the stretch when Lycoming cut a 16-point deficit down to six with a 15-5 run made it 57-51 with 2:40 to play. To maximize its own chances at the postseason the Crusaders were aiming for a three-point win--to counter the two-point loss to the Warriors back in December--and had that thought in the back of their minds coming down the stretch.
Thompson, Nerney, and Josh Vargas (Allentown, Pa./Faith Christian Academy) hit two free throws apiece in the final 41 seconds to provide the insurance.
Anthony Martin led the Warriors with 19 points and Mike Bradley finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Commonwealth playoffs begin Wednesday with Albright visiting Messiah and Lycoming visiting Widener. Winners play for the title--and the NCAA automatic bid--next Saturday.
All is not lost for the Crusaders who have likely positioned themselves well enough for an ECAC bid. That bracket will be announced the Monday after the Commonwealth Championship.
Alvernia 68, Lycoming 60