BOX SCORE
Scranton, PA (Jan. 7, 2006) – Senior forward Chris Talley (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) recorded game highs with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Alvernia College to an 80-48 win over Curry College (Mass.) in day one men’s basketball action at the University of Scranton’s Radisson Invitational Saturday afternoon. Alvernia will face Chestnut Hill College in the tournament championship on Sunday.
Four Crusaders reached double figures in Saturday’s win. Senior guard Lamar Brickus (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) scored 14 points and handed out a game-high six assists. Senior forward Zach Straining (Paxtang, PA/Central Dauphin East) scored 12 and pulled within 12 points of 1,000 for his career. Mike Brock (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) recorded 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from behind the 3-point line and Ryan Finger (Lancaster, PA/Lampeter Strasburg) missed the only shot he took, but pitched in with 10 rebounds.
Straining opened the game with a layup and the Crusaders (7-3) never trailed. Talley scored four of his 19 as Alvernia jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The gap grew to 13 on a Straining 3 with 12:40 to go in the first and as many as 22 in the first half when Talley’s jumper at 7:31 put the Crusaders up 33-11. Curry closed the gap to 12 points twice in the last four minutes of the opening half, but Alvernia scored the last seven points of the half to take a 44-25 lead into the break.
Alvernia continued the run on the other side of the break with the first six points of the second half to push the lead to 25. Talley, Brickus, and Straining all chipped in a bucket during the streak. Curry chipped the lead down to 16 points, 58-42, at the 11:15 mark, but could get no closer.
Chestnut Hill advanced to Sunday’s final with a 76-64 win over host Scranton. Junior guard Isaac Greer (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal Dougherty) scored 16 of his game-high 25 points after halftime to lead the Griffins to their first win in 10 attempts this season.
Alvernia 80, Curry 48
