BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 26, 2007) – Alvernia College rebounded 20 of its 38 misses and junior forward Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) surpassed 20 points for the third straight game as the Crusaders got into the win column with an 85-68 decision at Penn State Berks Monday evening in non-conference men's basketball action.

Shawell hit 9-of-20 shots from the floor Monday night including one 3 in five attempts and led three players in double figures for the Crusaders (1-2). Sophomore Matt King (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X) scored 15 points and added 10 boards for his second double-double in three games. Junior center Tyrone Bradley (Chester, Pa./Chester) also reached double figures with 10. Alvernia posted a 43-26 advantage on the glass with nearly half of its boards coming at the offensive end.

Sophomore guard Zach Westmoreland (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) scored nine points and finished with four assists and four steals. More importantly, he finished the evening with zero turnovers.

Alvernia looked like it was headed to its third straight loss to open the season; something the Crusaders haven't done since the 2000 season. The Lions (0-4) hit three of their 10 3s for the night in the opening three minutes and raced out to an 11-2 lead. Sophomore guard Adam Fusco (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) hit the second 3 on his way to a 6-for-10 effort from the arc and a team-best 22 points.

Alvernia took a 30-second timeout right at 17:00 and set up a play for a King jumper on the ensuing possession. Shawell followed with a pair of free throws and by the time King capped the run it was 11 straight for the Crusaders who took a 13-11 lead.

PSU stopped the run with Fusco's second 3, but Alvernia came back later with a 12-2 run for a 25-18 lead with 7:28 left in the first half. Junior transfer David Washington (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) sparked the run with five straight and King closed it with his only 3 of the night.

Berks cut the first half deficit down to one on three occasions, but King, Bradley, and Shawell combined for eight straight points that put Alvernia up 41-32 only to see Fusco connect again from long range on the Lions final possession of the half for a 41-35 score at the break.

The second half gap was cut to two points early following a Mark Fowler (Mahanoy City, Pa./Mahanoy) bucket, but once again the Crusaders strung together a streak, this time nine straight, for a 52-41 lead with 15:22 to play.

Alvernia answered every Berks score and pushed the gap to 15 points, 65-50 on a Bradley put back, and eventually up to 19 points, the largest of the night, when Westmoreland knocked down a pair of free throws with 3:41 remaining.

Alvernia will have a day to prepare for Lebanon Valley College which pays a visit to the Physical Education Center this Wednesday for a women's and men's doubleheader starting at 6:00 p.m. Both games Wednesday will be webcast live through http://athletics.alvernia.edu.

Alvernia 85, Penn State Berks 68