READING, Pa. - Senior center Andrew Powers hit three foul shots inside the final 12 seconds and Gettysburg overcame a late eight-point deficit to beat host Alvernia University 63-61 in non-conference men's basketball action Wednesday evening.
Powers posted his 17th career double-double and his first of the season with 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as Gettysburg (5-6) snapped a five-game losing streak. His 15 boards were the most by a Bullet since Joe Spierenburg '09 also had 15 on Jan. 3, 2009.
Senior forward Kevin Kennedy added a season-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Bullets while junior guard Brendan Trelease notched nine points. Senior guard Paul Crone added seven points and four assists while junior forward Tim Lang grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
Alvernia (7-3) had three players reach double figures in scoring with Seth Cornell leading the way with 21 points. Charles Swigett netted 18 points to go with four assists while Brian Nerney contributed 12 points and Cory Boone blocked four shots. Cornell and Swigett combined to hit nine of Alvernia's 10 3-pointers.
The Bullets trailed 58-50 with 4:14 left and it was 59-52 after a Swigett free throw with 3:09 to go before Gettysburg outscored the Crusaders 11-2 the rest of the way. Kennedy started the rally with a 3-pointer, then hit a pair of free throws with 1:13 remaining to give the Bullets their first lead (60-59) since midway through the second half.
Powers grabbed five of his rebounds during the Bullets game-ending run, and his final carom came after Kennedy had his put-back blocked with Gettysburg trailing 61-60. Powers was then fouled, and he swished a pair of free throws with 12 ticks showing to put his team up one.
The Crusaders were unable to get off a shot the rest of the way, turning it over with two seconds left before Powers went 1-for-2 at the line to set the final score.
Gettysburg shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 50.0 percent (5-for-10) from beyond the arc, while holding a definitive 37-22 advantage on the glass.
After falling behind 10-3 to start the game, the Bullets reeled off 15 unanswered points over a 6:41 stretch to take an 18-10 lead with 7:21 on the clock. A trio of 3-pointers kicked off the run, as Trelease canned a pair of treys around a Crone triple.
Swigett stemmed the rally for Alvernia when he drained back-to-back treys sandwiched around Trelease's third 3-ball. A basket from sophomore guard Derek Brooks with 3:43 showing gave the visitors their largest lead (27-16) of the night.
The Crusaders pulled even (27-27) following an 11-0 run, but Gettysburg scored the final six points of the period to take a 33-27 lead into the locker room.
Gettysburg shot 53.8 percent in the opening half while holding Alvernia to 34.6 percent shooting.
Lang connected on a jumper to give the Bullets a 37-29 lead with 17:33 left, but Alvernia pulled to within two after an 8-2 run. Cornell started and ended the spurt with a pair of 3-pointers.
Midway through the half the hosts put together a 19-5 run to assume a 51-44 advantage with 10:51 left after Cornell's fifth and final trey of the night. After the Bullets cut it to three Alvernia pushed it back to eight, setting up Gettysburg's late rally.