Jan 19, 2011
BOX SCORE | PHOTOS
Reading, Pa. (Jan. 19, 2011) - "The first half was the best half we've played all year," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller after a 44-27 start led the Crusaders (11-3, 6-0) to an 80-63 win over Widener University (9-7, 4-2) Wednesday evening in a Commonwealth Conference men's basketball game at the Physical Education Center.
That's saying something since four days ago his squad held Messiah College to 15 points in the first half.
"Our offense was clicking and our defense has been constant," he continued.
The offense clicked to the tune of 16-for-34 in the first half including 5-of-13 from the 3-point arc, while the defense forced 12 Widener turnovers and held the Pride to 11-for-37 shooting and 1-for-9 from the arc. Last Saturday in a miraculous comeback the Pride hit twice from downtown in the game's final five seconds.
Alvernia scored 15 of the first 17 points on Wednesday immediately putting Widener in a 13-point hole. The lead grew to 16 points, 21-5 on Charlie Swiggett's (Chester, Pa./Chester) second 3 of the half, and at its largest point hit 21.
Widener was able to knock it back down to 13 points with under two minutes left in the half, but Alvernia scored the final four points to hit the break with the 17-point cushion, 44-27.
Swiggett opened the second half with a fade-away 3 in the corner then added another 90 seconds later to put the Crusaders up 25 points, 52-27. From there the Crusaders put it on cruise control leading by 13 or more the rest of the way and settling for the 17-point decision.
Tad Gillis (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) scored 15 points to go with a season-high 10 assists, Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) scored 14 points and Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.
Widener got a game-high 25 points from Perry Wright off the bench. He was the only player to reach double figures for the Pride.
Alvernia finishes out the first cycle through the conference schedule this Saturday at Lycoming. The Crusaders currently sit atop the league with a two-game lead over three schools, Elizabethtown, Albright, and Widener.
Alvernia 80, Widener 63
Reading, Pa. (Jan. 19, 2011) - "The first half was the best half we've played all year," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller after a 44-27 start led the Crusaders (11-3, 6-0) to an 80-63 win over Widener University (9-7, 4-2) Wednesday evening in a Commonwealth Conference men's basketball game at the Physical Education Center.
That's saying something since four days ago his squad held Messiah College to 15 points in the first half.
"Our offense was clicking and our defense has been constant," he continued.
The offense clicked to the tune of 16-for-34 in the first half including 5-of-13 from the 3-point arc, while the defense forced 12 Widener turnovers and held the Pride to 11-for-37 shooting and 1-for-9 from the arc. Last Saturday in a miraculous comeback the Pride hit twice from downtown in the game's final five seconds.
Alvernia scored 15 of the first 17 points on Wednesday immediately putting Widener in a 13-point hole. The lead grew to 16 points, 21-5 on Charlie Swiggett's (Chester, Pa./Chester) second 3 of the half, and at its largest point hit 21.
Widener was able to knock it back down to 13 points with under two minutes left in the half, but Alvernia scored the final four points to hit the break with the 17-point cushion, 44-27.
Swiggett opened the second half with a fade-away 3 in the corner then added another 90 seconds later to put the Crusaders up 25 points, 52-27. From there the Crusaders put it on cruise control leading by 13 or more the rest of the way and settling for the 17-point decision.
Tad Gillis (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) scored 15 points to go with a season-high 10 assists, Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) scored 14 points and Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.
Widener got a game-high 25 points from Perry Wright off the bench. He was the only player to reach double figures for the Pride.
Alvernia finishes out the first cycle through the conference schedule this Saturday at Lycoming. The Crusaders currently sit atop the league with a two-game lead over three schools, Elizabethtown, Albright, and Widener.
Alvernia 80, Widener 63