BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Feb. 23, 2011) – Alvernia University juniors Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) and Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) calmly hit six straight free throws in the final minute to lead the top-seeded Crusaders (17-6) to a 51-49 win over #4 Messiah College (12-13) Wednesday evening in semifinal action of the Commonwealth Conference Men's Basketball Championships at the Physical Education Center.

Thompson hit two free throws to break a tie score with 39 seconds left then two more to push the lead to four after Messiah missed a pair. Nerney stepped to the line with six seconds left and reset the four-point cushion to seal the game.

"In a game like this you gotta make foul shots down the stretch," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller after advancing to his first Commonwealth Final. "We're in the championship at home and it's everything we've been playing for all year."

Messiah was the team that wouldn't go away all season sneaking into the playoffs when Arcadia University won its first ever Commonwealth Conference game. The Falcons used that same scrappy approach to erase a 10-point deficit early in the second half providing tense moments for the home fans.

Alvernia senior Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) hit his only 3 of the night three and a half minutes after the break to put the Crusaders up 32-22, but the Falcons answered with a 3 from senior Andy Hawk, then a layup on the inside and another 3 from Hawk. When David Fernandez scored on the break the Alvernia lead was completely erased.

"Credit to them," said Miller of the Falcons. "They beat us up inside. We took away the perimeter, but they got it inside."

After a free throw from Alvernia senior Tad Gillis (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) the Falcons scored on a layup in the paint to take their first lead since an early 4-2 advantage.

Alvernia, which missed its first eight 3s, took back the lead with a 3 from Thompson, his only make in five attempts. Cornell followed with a pair of free throws and Gillis knocked down a 3 from the left elbow to put Alvernia back up seven with seven to play.

As they have done all year the Falcons responded. This time a jumper from Brad Bolen, a Runkle layup, and a 3 from Derek Mosley erased the lead.

Déjà vu ensued with Alvernia hitting one free throw and Runkle scoring on a layup to give Messiah a one-point lead. This time with under three to play.

The Crusaders' next possession went through Gillis who called for a high screen from Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle Area). Boone laid the screen and Gillis buried the 3 for a two-point lead.

"Big 3," was all Miller said of his senior's clutch shot. "Big 3. We didn't score for a while. He broke the ice and it came down to making foul shots."

Runkle followed up his own miss on the other end for a tie score with 1:50 to play, but neither team converted over the next 80 seconds until Thompson's free throw.

Thompson, Cornell, and Gillis all scored a dozen to lead the Crusaders.  Runkle finished with a game-high 18 for the Falcons.

Alvernia will host #2 Lebanon Valley College, a 58-56 winner over Widener, in the final on Saturday. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

#1 Alvernia 51, #4 Messiah 49