BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Jan. 22, 200-7) – Alvernia College scored the first 11 points of the game and never trailed in a 65-49 win over College Misericordia Monday evening in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference men’s basketball action at the Physical Education Center.  Senior guard Garrett Etzel (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) scored a game-high 19 and freshman Matt King (Phoenixville, PA/St. Pius X) scored five of his 12 during the early run.

            Misericordia (6-10, 4-5 PAC) closed within six points three times in the first half, but found itself down 13 at the break and never within nine in the second half.  The Cougars put a pair of players in double figures led by Evan Donegan (Springfield, VA/Paul VI Catholic) who scored 11 and Matthew Hornak (Montrose, PA/Montrose Area) who added 10.  Sophomore Vinny Baumunk (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County), who came in leading the team at 15.2 per game was held to four points, largely due to the defensive efforts of Alvernia sophomore Tyrone Bradley (Chester, PA/Chester).

            Bradley’s layup opened the scoring and King’s 3 put the hosts up 11-0 four minutes later.  CM cut it the six, 13-7, but freshman reserve Nick Rivera (Reading, PA/Holy Name) pushed the lead to eight points.  Zach Westmoreland (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) and sophomore Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) followed with buckets on successive possessions to keep the gap at eight, and when Westmoreland forced a turnover in the backcourt and Shawell hammered home a thunderous dunk, the lead was 16, and the Cougars needed to talk it over.

            CM hit a 3 on the other side of the timeout and remained down 13 at the break, 32-19.  Alvernia held a decided 20-4 advantage on points in the paint in the first half and a 14-4 advantage in points off turnovers.

            CM slowly trimmed that gap to nine twice in the early parts of the second half, but Etzel’s 3 at 7:24 pushed the gap to 18 and Shawell and King hit back-to-back 3s for a 22 point lead.  Alvernia finished the night 8-of-16 from the arc and shot 46 percent from the floor.  Shawell finished the night with 16 points for the Crusaders.

            Alvernia will travel to Wesley College on Thursday for a 7:00 p.m. match up with the Wolverines.

Alvernia 65, Misericordia 49