BOX SCORE

Scranton, PA (Jan. 8, 2006) – Senior forward Zach Straining (Paxtang, PA/Central Dauphin East) scored his 1,000th career point and Chris Talley (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) notched his second straight double double to lead Alvernia College to a 82-49 win over Chestnut Hill College Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the Radisson Invitational hosted by the University of Scranton.

            Alvernia jumped out to a 10-0 lead and was never threatened.  Straining scored 12 points to reach 1,000 points exactly.  He became the 18th Crusader to reach 1,000 career points on a breakaway dunk early in the second half.  Talley shot 7-for-14 from the floor and finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  The 6-2 senior was named the tournament MVP.  Senior guard Lamar Brickus (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) scored six points and had five assists and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

            Straining scored four points during the opening run as the Crusader held the Griffins (1-10) off the board for the opening 4:48.  Chestnut Hill tallied its first two points from the free throw line and the Crusaders ran off 12 more unanswered points to take a 22-2 lead with 10:46 left in the opening frame.  Junior guard Isaac Greer hit the first field goal for the Griffins, a 3 that cut the lead to 22-5.  Alvernia senior Mike Brock (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) hit a 3 that put Alvernia up 21 points at 28-7 with 7:54 left in the first half, and the Griffins never pulled closer than 18 points the remainder of the way.

            Alvernia (8-3) shot 48 percent from the floor and just 53 percent from the free throw line, but forced 18 turnovers and held the Griffins to 27 percent shooting.  The Crusaders return to the conference schedule on Wednesday with a trip to Gwynedd-Mercy for a rematch of the past two Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Championship games.

Alvernia 82, Chestnut Hill 49