BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 16, 2007) – Alvernia College overcame a 19-point first half deficit and built a five-point lead early in the second half only to suffer through a 14-2 University of Scranton run midway through the second half in an 80-73 loss in day one action at the 10th annual Tom Masano/Sheraton Reading Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Friday evening at the Physical Education Center.

Scranton will face Walsh University in the championship game Saturday afternoon at 3:00. Alvernia will play Point Park University in the 1:00 consolation game. Walsh defeated Point Park, 110-83 in the opener.

Scranton seemed to hit from all over the court to open game two. The Royals (1-0) jumped out to leads of 10-3 and 23-7 before posting their largest lead of the half, 30-11 with 8:07 left in the frame. Senior guard Randy Arnold (Doylestown, Pa./C.B. West) scored just six of his game-high 22 during the opening run.

Sophomore sub Charlie Hughes (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin) scored the first two and the last three of what turned into a 13-4 run that pulled the Crusaders within 10 at the 3:59 mark. Hughes scored the first bucket on an assist from sophomore Matt King (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X), who matched Arnold with 22 points. Junior forward Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) followed with a steal and a dunk and hit a step-back 3 to keep momentum rolling.

After Arnold and senior center Tom Bicknell (Melbourne, Aus./St. Bede's College) scored back-to-back buckets King hit a 3 and Hughes' 3 followed to cut the gap to 10 just past the 4:00 mark.

Scranton scored on its next possession, but junior Tim Walters (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) started and ended a 7-0 Alvernia run that cut the lead to five with 2:29 to go. Arnold knocked down a pair of free throws to push the gap to seven points with 1:29 left in the first, but King hit a layup assisted by freshman Eric Barefield (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) and Barefield followed with a layup to cut the halftime deficit to three, 35-38.

Walters tied the score at 38-all opening the second half with a 3 and King's 3 gave Alvernia its first lead of the game. The lead grew to four on a King free throw and five, the largest of the night for the hosts, on King's third of five 3s on the night.

After and exchange of 3s Scranton rattled off seven straight to regain the lead and following a Corey Evans (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) dunk for the hosts, another seven for the Royals built a seven point lead with 9:40 to go.

The lead grew to eight as Arnold knocked down a free throw at 7:39 and it remained there after two more Arnold free throws a minute later. The 5-10 guard finished the night 11-for-13 from the stripe to compliment a 4-for-6 effort from the floor.

King knocked down a 3 for the Crusaders to cut the gap to five and his fifth of the night two minutes later cut the gap to three points, 69-66, with 3:01 to play. Scranton converted on its next possession and after the Crusaders failed to keep pace, the Royals hit two more free throws for a seven point lead with 2:12 to play. Scranton finished the night 22-of-25 on the night as the Crusaders committed 23 personal fouls.

Alvernia is now 12-7 in its home tip-off tournament. Scranton and Point Park are both making their first appearances in the event and Walsh, the 1998 winner, will put its 3-0 record at the PEC on the line in Saturday's final. The Alvernia loss snapped a 24-game home win streak which started with a 76-50 victory over Arcadia on January 14, 2006.

Univ. of Scranton 80, Alvernia 73