BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 16, 2009) - "I'm happy."

Simply put and well said by Alvernia Men's Basketball head coach Mike Miller as he left the Beaver Community Center following the Crusaders' 87-43 win over Penn State-Berks Monday evening.

"I'm please with what we got tonight," continued Miller.

What he got was 14 players in the box score, three of them in double figures, and the 10th straight win over the Lions.  Freshman forward Matt Schatzmann (Paradise, Pa./Pequea Valley) scored a game-high 17 marking the first time a freshman has led the team in the season opener since Damon Bogan scored 21 against Rutgers-Camden to open the 2004 season.

"Matt had an excellent start," said Miller looking over the postgame box score.  "That's what we're going to need.  They did a good job containing Nick [Rivera] (six points, three rebounds in 14 minutes), and when that happens we're gonna need others to do the scoring."

Others included senior guard Charlie Hughes (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin) who hit 7-of-9 free throws and one of the team's five 3s to finish with 12 points, and sophomore transfer Tad Gillis (Williamsport, Pa./Upper Darby) who scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor.

In addition to the offensive production, the Crusaders also did it with defense on Monday, especially junior Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) who helped hold '09 NEAC First Teamer Adam Fusco, who averaged better than two 3s per game and a dozen points, to zero 3s, seven points, and an early exit on a technical foul, his fifth personal, with more than 16 minutes left in the game.

"I thought Seth was terrific on defense," said Miller.  "He frustrated Fusco and then it got kinda goofy."

Goofy in terms of four technical fouls whistled on the hosts.  Two of them early in the second half sent first Fusco then Dan Kuzo to the showers early with plenty of game to be played.

The Crusaders took advantage of the Lions' lack of discipline and focus and pushed the lead over 30 with 14 minutes still to play.  That gave an opportunity for Miller to continue to look down the bench and get meaningful time for his reserves.

No one in the lineup played 30 minutes and 11 players logged at least 10 minutes including sophomore Ryan Ludwig (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) who played three total minutes last season and Monday scored a career high nine points in 15 minutes.

The Crusaders will continue to look for ways to buck the trends from a season ago, a season that ended at 10-15, when they welcome Valley Forge Military Academy on Friday and hope to keep the smile on the coach's face.

Alvernia 87, PSU-Berks 43