Mar 04, 2012
BOX SCORE
Huntingdon, Pa. (Mar. 4, 2012) - Senior center Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle) had a game-tying dunk in the final seconds of regulation and scored five of his team-high 23 points in overtime earning MVP honors while leading #4 Alvernia University (20-8) to a 93-85 win over #3 Catholic University (19-9) in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Men's Basketball Final hosted by Juniata College.
Alvernia held an 11-point lead at halftime and again enjoyed the same cushion with 7:45 left following a 3-pointer from freshman Terrance Bridgers (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby), but Catholic ran off a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to tie the game at 77-all. After four misses from the floor for the Crusaders, Catholic scored on a layup with 1:33 left for a 79-77 lead. It was the first lead for the Cardinals since a 2-0 lead.
Alvernia tied in on a layup from senior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) on its next possession, but Catholic took the lead back with 39 seconds to go on a Chris Kearney jumper. The Cardinals had just two team fouls in the second half and tried to make it tough on the Crusaders to get into an offense by fouling just as they got into their sets. They commited back-to-back fouls then missed an opportunity to catch Alvernia sophomore Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) who set up Boone for the game-tying dunk with 10 seconds to go. Boone was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw with a chance to go ahead.
Alvernia also had fouls to give and gave two before Boone stole the ball to force overtime.
Boone started the extra period with a three-point play then scored on a layup as the Crusaders scored the first seven points in overtime for an 88-81 lead. They hit five free throws in six attempts over the final 50 seconds to secure the win.
Boone posted season highs in both points and rebounds (14) and was one of five players to reach double figures for the Crusaders. Davis totaled a career-high 19 points to go with nine assists and three steals. Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) finished with 15 points, Bridgers scored 13, and Nerney added a dozen.
The Crusaders pick up their second ECAC title in their seventh appearance. They won two games for the title in 1995 as the top seed.
#4 Alvernia 93, #3 Catholic 85 (OT)
Huntingdon, Pa. (Mar. 4, 2012) - Senior center Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle) had a game-tying dunk in the final seconds of regulation and scored five of his team-high 23 points in overtime earning MVP honors while leading #4 Alvernia University (20-8) to a 93-85 win over #3 Catholic University (19-9) in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Men's Basketball Final hosted by Juniata College.
Alvernia held an 11-point lead at halftime and again enjoyed the same cushion with 7:45 left following a 3-pointer from freshman Terrance Bridgers (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby), but Catholic ran off a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to tie the game at 77-all. After four misses from the floor for the Crusaders, Catholic scored on a layup with 1:33 left for a 79-77 lead. It was the first lead for the Cardinals since a 2-0 lead.
Alvernia tied in on a layup from senior Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) on its next possession, but Catholic took the lead back with 39 seconds to go on a Chris Kearney jumper. The Cardinals had just two team fouls in the second half and tried to make it tough on the Crusaders to get into an offense by fouling just as they got into their sets. They commited back-to-back fouls then missed an opportunity to catch Alvernia sophomore Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) who set up Boone for the game-tying dunk with 10 seconds to go. Boone was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw with a chance to go ahead.
Alvernia also had fouls to give and gave two before Boone stole the ball to force overtime.
Boone started the extra period with a three-point play then scored on a layup as the Crusaders scored the first seven points in overtime for an 88-81 lead. They hit five free throws in six attempts over the final 50 seconds to secure the win.
Boone posted season highs in both points and rebounds (14) and was one of five players to reach double figures for the Crusaders. Davis totaled a career-high 19 points to go with nine assists and three steals. Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) finished with 15 points, Bridgers scored 13, and Nerney added a dozen.
The Crusaders pick up their second ECAC title in their seventh appearance. They won two games for the title in 1995 as the top seed.
#4 Alvernia 93, #3 Catholic 85 (OT)