BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Jan. 12, 2008) – Senior guard Mike Schatzmann (Paradise, Pa./Pequea Valley) scored 10 of his game-high 34 points during a 23-4 Elizabethtown run to start the second half, but the Blue Jays (12-1) needed seven free throws in the final minute for a 78-72 win over Alvernia College Saturday afternoon in non-conference men's basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

Alvernia (4-7) was outstanding in the opening half playing its first home game since a November 28 win over Lebanon Valley. The Crusaders scored 18 points off turnovers in the opening frame and built a 43-31 lead at the break with David Washington (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) hit a 3 on the final possession of the half.

Schatzmann opened the second half with five straight points and the Jays needed just seven minutes to erase the Alvernia lead. Sophomore Mike Church (Peach Bottom, Pa./Solanco) put Etown up 48-47 with a jumper at 12:46 and the guests rattled off six straight from there for a 54-47 lead with 10:41 to play.
Alvernia scored eight straight led by six points from sophomore Matt King (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X) to reclaim a one-point lead and the teams stayed within a possession of each other until Church hit a pair of free throws for a 66-61 lead with 3:00 to go.

King answered with a pair of free throws, but Schatzmann pushed it back to five with a layup. Etown added another free throw, but Alvernia reserve Derek Dubbs (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) picked a good time for his only 3 of the day to cut the gap in half.

Alvernia forced a turnover on the next Etown possession and this time King hit a 3 to knot the score at 69-all with 1:05 to play. Schatzmann beat the defense down the court following King's 3 and scored a traditional 3-point play to regain the lead. He followed with four more free throws in the final minute and Chad Piersol (Elverson, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) hit two as well to offset another King 3 for the 78-72 final.

King finished with 21 points to lead the Crusaders.  Junior Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) scored 15 points before fouling out and Zach Westmoreland (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) added 10 points.  Washington finished with nine points and seven assists.  Etown placed four players in double figures led by Schatzmann.

Alvernia will travel to conference foe Cabrini College on Monday for a 7:00 p.m. game.

Elizabethtown 78, Alvernia 72