Glenside, PA (Jan. 23, 2006) – Seniors Zach Straining (Paxtang, PA/Central Dauphin East) and Chris Talley (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) scored 26 of 36 first half points for Alvernia College in a 69-54 win over Arcadia University Monday evening in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference men’s basketball action at Arcadia.  Straining finished with a game-high 22 points and Talley added 18 points and nine rebounds.

            Straining opened the scoring with a field goal on Alvernia’s opening possession and the Crusaders (13-4, 9-1 PAC) never trailed.  Straining nailed a 3 a few possessions later and Talley totaled five straight as Alvernia opened up a six point lead, 14-8 at the 15:12 mark.  Ten minutes later Talley converted a three point play and the Crusaders’ lead grew to 11.  Field goals from Straining, Tyrone Bradley (Chester, PA/Chester), and Garrett Etzel (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) and just one free throw from Arcadia’s Bobby Mulholland (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood) over the final three minuets of the opening frame gave Alvernia its largest lead of the half, 36-22 at the break.

            Straining scored six of Alvernia’s first 10 second-half points as the lead grew to 16 with under 16 minutes to play.  Arcadia got a hoop from Kevin Brown (Trenton, NJ/Burlington Twp.) to close to 14, but Alvernia responded with 10 straight to open up a 24-point lead, the largest of the night.  Etzel paced the way for the Crusaders with six of his 12 points during the run.

            Arcadia trimmed the lead to 15 with nine straight points, but Alvernia came back with six quick points capped by Talley’s two free throws to push the gap over 20.  Arcadia trimmed the lead to 17 points on the second of two straight Brown buckets at 5:09 and Talley’s two at 3:01 was the only scoring in a three minute stretch as Alvernia coasted to the 15-point win.

            Alvernia will host College Misericordia Wednesday as part of a women’s and men’s doubleheader. 

Alvernia 69, Arcadia 54