Grantham, Pa. (Dec. 10, 2016) - Alvernia University (5-2, 2-1) put five players in double figures, led by junior Mike Miller, Jr. who totaled 17 points, in a 76-70 win over Messiah College (2-5, 0-3) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Messiah.
The Falcons built a 10-point lead midway through the first half and settled for a 35-31 lead at the halftime break.
The Crusaders scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 38-35 lead. The lead changed hands seven times over the next five minutes with a 3-point play from Alvernia senior Marquis Marshall giving Alvernia a lead it didn't relinquish.
The Alvernia lead hit seven points, 60-53, when junior Alex Shippen knocked down a 3 and again on a 3 from Steve Pendleton, 67-60, with 2:39 to go. The Crusaders went 9-for-12 from the free throw line the rest of the way for the win.
Alvernia went 4-for-6 from the 3-point arc and 19-of-23 from the free throw lin in the second half.
Miller Jr. led the way with 17 points. Marshall and Williams scored 14 each, and Shippen and Pendleton added 13 each. Messiah had a pair of players score a game-high 18 points.
Alvernia continues the conference schedule on Tuesday at Lycoming. The Warriors, defending championships of the MAC Commonwealth, are one of two teams to start the conference schedule 3-0 (Albright).
Alvernia 76, Messiah 70