BOX SCORE

Scranton, Pa. (Jan. 31, 2008) – Making just his second career start, sophomore guard Charlie Hughes (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin) quadrupled his previous career high scoring 24 points to lead Alvernia College to a 93-50 win over Marywood University Thursday evening in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference men's basketball action at Insalaco Arena.

Hughes hit 5-of-9 shots from the floor including 4-of-6 from the 3-point arc and is the first Alvernia player to hit 10-for-10 from the free throw line since Ray Strickland did the same in a 73-67 win over Neumann College on January 17, 2004, in a game that was played at Temple's Liacouras Center. Sophomore forward Nick Rivera (Reading, Pa./Holy Name) finished the night with his second straight double-double scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. He was also a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and has hit 14 straight counting his 8-for-8 night on Monday at Centenary.

Alvernia (11-7, 8-1 PAC) opened up some breathing room in the first half with an 11-2 run that built a 27-13 lead with 8:21 to go before the break. Junior forward Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown), who finished with 20, hit a 3 to start the run and Hughes capped it with a 3 and a pair of free throws.

Marywood (6-11, 0-9 PAC) stopped it with two free throws, but Hughes hit another 3 and after four straight Pacer points, Hughes and Shawell went back-to-back from long range in a 14-0 run that spanned three minutes and left the Crusaders with a 44-18 lead. Shawell and junior David Washington (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) scored in the middle of the run and Rivera closed it with a pair of layups.

Marywood stopped the streak again with a free throw and an even exchange run out the half with Alvernia holding a 48-23 lead at the break. The Crusaders shot a blistering 58 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and 50 percent from both the 3-point arc (7-for-14) and the free throw line (5-for-10).

The Crusaders continued the hot shooting to open the second half hitting four straight, including a pair of Matt King (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X) 3s. Hughes stayed hot with his fourth 3 of the night and when Shawell dropped in a 3 at 14:32 the Crusaders were up 42 points, 72-30. The trio of King, Shawell, and Hughes each finished with four 3-point field goals.

The onslaught continued midway through the second half and the gap reached 50 points (83-33) on a Rivera layup at 10:36. Two free throws from freshman reserve Eric Barefield (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) pushed the lead to its largest of the night, 85-33, and the end of the bench enjoyed plenty of playing time as Alvernia cruised to the 93-50 win.

Alvernia held its second straight opponent to under 30 percent shooting from the floor, limiting the Pacers to 27 percent (15-for-55), and forced 22 turnovers. King finished with 18 points.

Alvernia will return home to face Neumann College in a women's and men's doubleheader on Saturday. Game times are 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., and both games will be webcast live at http://athletics.alvernia.edu.

Alvernia 93, Marywood 50