BOX SCORE

Immaculata, Pa. (Feb. 8, 2007) – Alvernia College scored a meager six points over the final 9:46, but had just enough defense to hold off Immaculata University Thursday evening for a 48-45 win in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference men’s basketball action at Immaculata.  Alvernia senior Garrett Etzel (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) led all scorers with 17 points.

            Alvernia posted its 42nd point on a Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) bucket with 9:46 to play and held a 10-point lead, 42-32.  Both teams combined to score just five total points over the next four minutes and the Crusaders held an 11-point lead, 45-34.  Immaculata slowly cut into the lead getting two from Jayson Hyman (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) and four straight from Scott Marston (Norristown, PA/Kennedy Kenrick) to pull within six, 39-45.

            Alvernia freshman Zach Westmoreland (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown West) knocked down a pair of free throws with 3:31 to go then back came Marston with a bucket to answer.  Sean Fordham (Melrose Park, PA/Cheltenham) scored for Immaculata in front of another Marston bucket, and the gap was two points with 2:10 to play.

            Both teams came up empty on their next possession, and the Crusaders turned the ball over with under a minute to play.  Shawell blocked a Fordham attempt and rebounded a Dan Lepone (Richboro, PA/Abington Friends) miss with eight seconds to play.  He followed with 1-of-2 free throws, and IU sophomore Julius Lopez (Linfield, PA/Spring Ford), who rimmed out a potential game-winner at Alvernia earlier this season, missed on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

            Alvernia shot just 39 percent from the floor, its fourth worst shooting effort this season and first sub-40 percent effort in the last nine games.  Both teams were 0-for-5 from the 3-point arc in the second half and Immaculata limited Alvernia to just four offensive rebounds for the game.

            Etzel buried a pair of 3s and scored nine points during the final four minutes of the first half as the Crusaders closed with a 14-4 run to take a 30-21 lead at the break.  Prior to that run, the largest lead of the game for either team was Immaculata’s 9-5 lead with just over four minutes gone.

            Marston scored a team-high 16 points for the Mighty Macs (9-13, 9-6 PAC).  Shawell finished the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Crusaders (18-4, 13-2 PAC).

            Alvernia will return home to face Marywood University as part of a women’s and men’s doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Alvernia 48, Immaculata 45