BOX SCORE

Dallas, Pa. (Jan. 31, 2009) - Alvernia University (8-11, 5-6) trimmed a 10-point, second half deficit down to four points with a minute left, but got no closer as Misericordia University (10-9. 4-6) held on for a 71-66 win Saturday afternoon in Freedom Conference men's basketball action at The Anderson Center.

Alvernia held a 15-13 lead midway through the first half, but Misericordia put together a 15-2 run over the next five minutes to forge ahead by 11.

Alvernia junior Charlie Huhges (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin), who paced the Crusaders for the second straight game with 16 points off the bench, scored to stop Misericordia's run, and Alvernia scored five straight and 10 of the next 12 to trim the gap to four.

Alvernia cut the second-half deficit down to one point on three different occasions, but couldn't get over the hump.  Misericordia went on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 10, but Alvernia trimmed that to four points twice in the last two minutes.

Misericordia responded hitting 11 out of 14 free throws in the final two minutes to hold on for the win.

Tim Walters (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) joined Huhges in double figures with 12 as did David Washington (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) with 10.  The Cougars got a game-high 21 from Vinny Baumunk.

Alvernia returns to action in a make-up game on Monday night at Immaculata University.

Misericordia 71, Alvernia 66