BOX SCORE

Williamsport, Pa. (Jan. 22, 2011) - Alvernia University (12-3, 7-0) held Lycoming (12-6, 2-5) scoreless for a nine-minute stretch in the second half, nearly coughed up a 10-point lead, then scored the last five points of the game to complete the first trip through the conference schedule undefeated with a 62-56 win Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference action at Lamade Gymnasium.

The Warriors took a 47-46 lead on a Sebastian Sabella jumper with 11:55 to play, but turned over the ball six times and went 0-for-9 from the floor while the Crusaders ran off 11 straight points to take a 57-47 lead with 3:39 to go.

As cold as the hosts were over the previous nine minutes, they were just as hot scoring on four straight possessions accounting for nine points in 83 seconds to pull within one, 57-56 with 1:21 to play.  Alvernia junior Tad Gillis (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), one of four Crusaders to reach double figures with a game-high 17 points, stoped the run with a layup assisted by Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor), and the Warriors returned to shooting blanks as the Crusaders scored five straight to close out the six-point win.

Alvernia remains alone in first place with a two-game lead over Elizabethtown, a 76-75 overtime winner at Widener on the last day of the first half of the conference season, and a three-game lead over Albright and Widener.

Cornell scored eight points in the last eight minutes to reach 15 points and Charlie Swiggett (Chester, Pa./Chester) matched that number.  Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) was the final starter to reach double figures with 11 points and scared a triple double with nine rebounds and eight blocks.

Lycoming's Will Kelly scored 17 points to go with 14 rebounds.

Alvernia will host Rutgers-Newark for a non-conference game on Wednesday and start the second half of the conference schedule next Saturday at Etown.

Alvernia 62, Lycoming 56