Box Score

Reading, PA (Nov. 18, 2005) – Senior forward Chris Talley (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) racked up 26 points and 11 rebounds, and junior Garrett Etzel (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) scored nine points during a pivotal second-half run as Alvernia College defeated Penn State Berks, 79-66, in the opening round of the Tom Masano Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Friday evening at the Physical Education Center.

            Talley scored 12 points in the first half as the Crusaders struggled to stay within three at the break.  Etzel knocked down four of his eight free throws and a 3 from the top of the key during an 11-6 run midway through the second half that gave Alvernia a four point lead it did not relinquish.

            Berks stunned the home crowd jumping out to a 14-6 lead behind seven of Joe Askew’s (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) team-high 18 points.  The Crusaders (1-0) made their first run taking a 20-18 lead getting four from Talley during the streak.  Berks took the lead back and kept its energy up during the remainder of the half holding the lead between three and five for the last four minutes.  Berks sophomore Dominic Allen (Steelton, PA/Steelton) hit one of two free throws with five seconds left in the first to take a 35-32 lead into the break.

            The Lions pushed the gap back to five points early in the second, but Alvernia responded with five straight sparked by one of Talley’s two 3s to knot the score at 42-all.  Berks broke a tie at 47 with a pair of free throws before Etzel and Talley combined to score the Crusaders’ next 12 points and the hosts enjoyed a  four-point gap, 59-55, with 9:53 to go.  Sophomore Jeremy Hurt (Kerona, PA/Riverview) hit one free throw to cut the gap to three, but after an exchange of layups the Crusaders rattled off eight straight and never looked back.

            Alvernia will face Montclair St., an 82-52 winner over Newport News, in the Tom Masano Championship game at 3:00 p.m.  Penn State Berks will face Newport News in the consolation at 1:00.

Alvernia 79, Penn State Berks 66

PENN STATE BERKS (0-1)

Askew, Joe 6-12 6-8 18; Joway, Seward 7-19 0-0 17; Michewicz, Jon 3-7 4-5 10; Hurt, Jeremy 4-7 1-3 9; Allen, Dominic 2-12 2-5 6; Banks, Antonio 2-9 2-4 6; Fowler, Mark 0-1 0-0 0; Goodwin, Kyle 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-68 15-25 66.

ALVERNIA COLLEGE (1-0)

Chris Talley 7-10 10-14 26; Garrett Etzel 3-7 8-8 15; Zach Straining 5-9 3-6 13; Lamar Brickus 3-10 2-3 8; Ryan Finger 2-5 2-2 6; Damon Bogan 2-6 1-2 5; Tremayne Pickett 1-2 1-2 3; Mike Brock 1-4 0-0 2; Sam Green 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 24-55 28-39 79.

Penn State Berks..............   35   31  -   66

Alvernia College..............   32   47  -   79

3-point goals-Penn State Berks 3-19 (Joway, Seward 3-10; Michewicz, Jon 0-1; Hurt, Jeremy 0-1; Allen, Dominic 0-4; Banks, Antonio 0-2; Fowler, Mark 0-1), Alvernia College 3-11 (Chris Talley 2-2; Garrett Etzel 1-3; Lamar Brickus 0-2; Ryan Finger 0-1; Mike Brock 0-1; Sam Green 0-1; Zach Straining 0-1).

Fouled out--Penn State Berks-Askew, Joe, Alvernia College-None.

Rebounds-Penn State Berks 47 (Askew, Joe 9), Alvernia College 4 (Chris Talley 11). Assists-Penn State Berks 7 (Joway, Seward 3), Alvernia College 10 (Lamar Brickus 3). Total fouls-Penn State Berks 26, Alvernia College 19. A-501