Nov 15, 2011
BOX SCORE
Gettysburg, Pa. (Nov. 15, 2011) - Freshman Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) scored on a baseline jumper to force overtime then thwarted a potential game-tying 3 with his fourth steal of the night late in the extra session as Alvernia University (1-0) opened the season with a 59-56 overtime win over Gettysburg College (0-1) Tuesday evening in non-conference men's basketball action at Bream Gymnasium.
The Crusaders faced nine-point deficits in both halves--the latest with 17 minutes left in regulation. They took the lead back with 5:14 to go on a Josh Vargas (Allentown, Pa./Faith Christian) 3 that made it 41-40. The Bullets scored four straight points with under two to play for a two-point lead and Clark hit the jumper on the baseline to tie it at 48-all with 15 seconds left in regulation.
Gettysburg junior Alex Zurn--who finished with a game and career-high 29--missed a fadeaway jumper along the right baseline at the other end sending the game into overtime.
A free throw from Alvernia senior Brian Nerney (Middlestown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) with 2:13 left put the game on the see-saw with the Crusaders up 51-50, and a fantastic tip-in from Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) 45 seconds later had the guests up 53-52.
After a bucket from Christian Bors in the paint put the Bullets back in front, Alvernia senior Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) hit his only 3 of the night from the top of the arc for a two-point lead. Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) followed with one of two free throws after a Zurn turnover for a three-point lead then Clark knocked the ball loose from Zurn as he went up for a 3 with under 10 seconds left.
"To win on the road against a team that runs a patient offense like that is a good start," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller. It's the sixth time in his eighth year at the helm Miller has started the season with a win, and the second time he's done it on the road.
"On the road, defense has to keep you in it and you just hope you can hit some shots," continued Miller. The Crusaders needed all 42 percent of the shots they hit in the second half to overcome the six-point halftime deficit then hit 3-of-9 in the extra session for the win.
Alvernia had four players in double figures led by Vargas with 14. Boone finished with 13, Davis had a dozen, and Nerney posted 10 before fouling out in overtime.
Alvernia led 14-11 midway through the first half before a streak of 12 straight from the Bullets gave them their first of three nine-point leads on the night. The Crusaders struggled in the first half hitting just one of 10 3-point attempts and shooting 27 percent from the floor, but found themselves only training by six, 25-19 after a Davis free throw 80 seconds before the half.
Gettysburg hit on 45 percent of its first-half shots, but turned the ball over nine times to help keep the Crusaders close. In all the Bullets coughed it up 24 times.
Gettysburg stretched its lead back to nine points twice in the second half, the final time on a Tim Lang tip-in with 17:19 to play that set a 33-24 score.
The Crusaders are on the road for the first four games of the season and will travel to Rowan University next Tuesday.
Alvernia 59, Gettysburg 56
Gettysburg, Pa. (Nov. 15, 2011) - Freshman Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) scored on a baseline jumper to force overtime then thwarted a potential game-tying 3 with his fourth steal of the night late in the extra session as Alvernia University (1-0) opened the season with a 59-56 overtime win over Gettysburg College (0-1) Tuesday evening in non-conference men's basketball action at Bream Gymnasium.
The Crusaders faced nine-point deficits in both halves--the latest with 17 minutes left in regulation. They took the lead back with 5:14 to go on a Josh Vargas (Allentown, Pa./Faith Christian) 3 that made it 41-40. The Bullets scored four straight points with under two to play for a two-point lead and Clark hit the jumper on the baseline to tie it at 48-all with 15 seconds left in regulation.
Gettysburg junior Alex Zurn--who finished with a game and career-high 29--missed a fadeaway jumper along the right baseline at the other end sending the game into overtime.
A free throw from Alvernia senior Brian Nerney (Middlestown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) with 2:13 left put the game on the see-saw with the Crusaders up 51-50, and a fantastic tip-in from Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) 45 seconds later had the guests up 53-52.
After a bucket from Christian Bors in the paint put the Bullets back in front, Alvernia senior Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) hit his only 3 of the night from the top of the arc for a two-point lead. Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) followed with one of two free throws after a Zurn turnover for a three-point lead then Clark knocked the ball loose from Zurn as he went up for a 3 with under 10 seconds left.
"To win on the road against a team that runs a patient offense like that is a good start," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller. It's the sixth time in his eighth year at the helm Miller has started the season with a win, and the second time he's done it on the road.
"On the road, defense has to keep you in it and you just hope you can hit some shots," continued Miller. The Crusaders needed all 42 percent of the shots they hit in the second half to overcome the six-point halftime deficit then hit 3-of-9 in the extra session for the win.
Alvernia had four players in double figures led by Vargas with 14. Boone finished with 13, Davis had a dozen, and Nerney posted 10 before fouling out in overtime.
Alvernia led 14-11 midway through the first half before a streak of 12 straight from the Bullets gave them their first of three nine-point leads on the night. The Crusaders struggled in the first half hitting just one of 10 3-point attempts and shooting 27 percent from the floor, but found themselves only training by six, 25-19 after a Davis free throw 80 seconds before the half.
Gettysburg hit on 45 percent of its first-half shots, but turned the ball over nine times to help keep the Crusaders close. In all the Bullets coughed it up 24 times.
Gettysburg stretched its lead back to nine points twice in the second half, the final time on a Tim Lang tip-in with 17:19 to play that set a 33-24 score.
The Crusaders are on the road for the first four games of the season and will travel to Rowan University next Tuesday.
Alvernia 59, Gettysburg 56