Feb 12, 2013
2/12/2013 11:48:00 PM
BOX SCORE
Reading, Pa. (Feb. 12, 2013) – Alvernia University (20-4, 14-3) got a 16-point boost off the bench from freshman Charles Cooper (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) in a 70-59 win over Hood College (14-10, 8-9) Tuesday evening in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.
The win locks up the top seed for the Crusaders in the conference championships which begin next week. Alvernia will open in the semifinals next Wednesday hosting the winner of the 4/5 game while crosstown rival Albright College locked in at #2 Tuesday night with a win on the road at Lycoming.
Cooper's offense—a new career high—certainly helped the Crusaders get win number 20 this season, but his coach credits his defense for getting him time on the floor.
"We knew he could score," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller, "but he finally brought the defense. It took him this long to bring in the defense, but he's earned it."
Cooper has seen time in 17-of-24 games for the Crusaders this season and has now been in double figures twice. His previous career high was 11 points in a 29-point win over St. Joseph's (LI).
"It doesn't matter how many you score," said Miller, "you're not going to be out there if you can't play defense."
The Crusaders held their seventh straight opponent under 60 points and have won 13 of their last 14 games.
Miller credited his three shortest players as being the biggest piece to his team's defensive effort.
"Defensively Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) guarded everyone from their point guard to No. 43, the tall center," said Miller. "He guards everyone from post people to points guards to guys coming off screens…and not to mention Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara). Those two guys are the reason we're so good defensively and the reason we're winning. Those two guys will guard anybody. They just keep setting the tempo and we go by their personality defensively."
Davis—the 5-9 point guard—found time to put together an impressive offensive game Tuesday scoring 11 points on an efficient 4-for-5 shooting to go with six assists and just one turnover.
Cooper's 16 came on the strength of 4-for-5 shooting from the 3-point arc while Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) reached double figures with 11 hitting all nine free throws he attempted. Junior center Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa./Chichester) scored 10 points and was also 4-for-5 from the floor.
Justin Stone led the way for the Blazers with 23 points while Cameron Cook scored 19.
Alvernia's 6-point lead, 29-23, was the largest for either team in the first and Hood cut five off that in a hurry with a layup from Stone and 3 from Cook that set a 29-28 halftime score.
After Hood took a brief 1-point lead four minutes into the second half Cooper did most of his damage—hitting a layup and two 3s alongside a pair from Davis—as the Crusaders ran off 14 straight for a 50-37 lead.
The lead hit 14 points a few times, the latest with 4:20 to play before a Cook 3 and five straight from Stone cut the gap to just six, 65-59 with 2:43 to play.
Alvernia got four free throws over the next minute to push the lead to 10 and locked up the top seed with the win.
The Crusaders reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time under Miller and the 11th time overall. They close the season at Messiah College which will be playing for a spot in the championship.
Alvernia 70, Hood 59
Reading, Pa. (Feb. 12, 2013) – Alvernia University (20-4, 14-3) got a 16-point boost off the bench from freshman Charles Cooper (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) in a 70-59 win over Hood College (14-10, 8-9) Tuesday evening in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.
The win locks up the top seed for the Crusaders in the conference championships which begin next week. Alvernia will open in the semifinals next Wednesday hosting the winner of the 4/5 game while crosstown rival Albright College locked in at #2 Tuesday night with a win on the road at Lycoming.
Cooper's offense—a new career high—certainly helped the Crusaders get win number 20 this season, but his coach credits his defense for getting him time on the floor.
"We knew he could score," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller, "but he finally brought the defense. It took him this long to bring in the defense, but he's earned it."
Cooper has seen time in 17-of-24 games for the Crusaders this season and has now been in double figures twice. His previous career high was 11 points in a 29-point win over St. Joseph's (LI).
"It doesn't matter how many you score," said Miller, "you're not going to be out there if you can't play defense."
The Crusaders held their seventh straight opponent under 60 points and have won 13 of their last 14 games.
Miller credited his three shortest players as being the biggest piece to his team's defensive effort.
"Defensively Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) guarded everyone from their point guard to No. 43, the tall center," said Miller. "He guards everyone from post people to points guards to guys coming off screens…and not to mention Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara). Those two guys are the reason we're so good defensively and the reason we're winning. Those two guys will guard anybody. They just keep setting the tempo and we go by their personality defensively."
Davis—the 5-9 point guard—found time to put together an impressive offensive game Tuesday scoring 11 points on an efficient 4-for-5 shooting to go with six assists and just one turnover.
Cooper's 16 came on the strength of 4-for-5 shooting from the 3-point arc while Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) reached double figures with 11 hitting all nine free throws he attempted. Junior center Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa./Chichester) scored 10 points and was also 4-for-5 from the floor.
Justin Stone led the way for the Blazers with 23 points while Cameron Cook scored 19.
Alvernia's 6-point lead, 29-23, was the largest for either team in the first and Hood cut five off that in a hurry with a layup from Stone and 3 from Cook that set a 29-28 halftime score.
After Hood took a brief 1-point lead four minutes into the second half Cooper did most of his damage—hitting a layup and two 3s alongside a pair from Davis—as the Crusaders ran off 14 straight for a 50-37 lead.
The lead hit 14 points a few times, the latest with 4:20 to play before a Cook 3 and five straight from Stone cut the gap to just six, 65-59 with 2:43 to play.
Alvernia got four free throws over the next minute to push the lead to 10 and locked up the top seed with the win.
The Crusaders reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time under Miller and the 11th time overall. They close the season at Messiah College which will be playing for a spot in the championship.
Alvernia 70, Hood 59