BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 21, 2009) - Newcomers Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) and Tad Gillis (Williamsport, Pa./Upper Darby) combined for eight straight points to push a late, five-point lead to 13 and help Alvernia University (3-0) salt away its sixth title with a 75-61 win over Immaculata University (1-2) Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the 12th Annual Alvernia University Tip-Off Tournament at the Physical Education Center.

"He had a great game," said head coach Mike Miller pointing to Gillis' line in the box score.  The line reads 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 37 minutes.  He started the late run with a 3-point play in the paint with 3:20 to play.

After a miss at the other end Cornell's 3 more than doubled the lead. 

"Cornell hit a big shot," said Miller.  "Maybe it was ill-advised considering the shot clock, but he made it so it's a good shot for us."

Cornell's effort, with 20 seconds left on the shot clock, pushed the lead to 11 with 2:48 to play.  He followed that with two free throws and the Crusaders were up 68-55 with 2:08 to play.

Immaculata scored four of the next five to cut the gap to 10, but Gillis hit four free throws--he finished 7-of-9 from the line--and the Crusaders celebrated the title, their first in three years.

Gillis and Cornell, who finished with a game-high 19 points, were both named to the All-Tournament Team along with tournament MVP Nick Rivera (Reading, Pa./Holy Name) who finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and five steals.  Rivera was 6-for-7 from the floor and 16-for-19 over the two games totaling 37 points and 11 rebounds for the victorious Crusaders.

Alvernia opened up an early six-point lead on Brian Nerney's (Midldletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) put back at the 15:14 mark, but the fouls were starting to mount up early for the hosts.

Nerney was the first to take a seat with his second foul the possession after his bucket and freshman Matt Schatzmann (Paradise, Pa./Pequea Valley) followed a minute later.  Both players returned to the floor in the first just long enough to pick up a third foul each and returned to a seat on the pine.

"John Boyd gave us match-up problems," admitted Miller.  "He really got our forwards into foul trouble.  Getting Cornell on him really saved us."

The 6-foot junior transfer has emerged as the early defensive stopper for the Crusaders along with Gillis playing a harassing defense, usually on the opponents back court, but on Saturday Cornell stepped up to contain the 6-3 Boyd who finished with eight points, just two after the halftime break.

Freshman Zach Fenstermacher (Topton, Pa./Central Catholic) was a needed presence off the bench stepping in to score four points and add an assist as the Crusaders pushed their 11-7 lead to 27-13 over a five-minute span.  Senior guard Charlie Hughes (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin) scored all six of his points during the same run, capping it with his only 3 of the night.

"Charlie was big for us scoring on sets in the forward position in big spots," said Miller.  "We needed to get him in there with the other guys on the bench and he really came through for us."

Hughes, listed as a guard his whole life, scored on a touch pass from Rivera for the first double digit lead of the night at the 11:52 mark, and his 3, from Cornell, set the 27-13 spread with 9:38 left in the first half.  That gap was cut to seven with three minutes on the clock and sat at 10 at the halftime break.

Alvernia ran a set play for a Schatzmann 3 on the first possession of the second half.  "It was actually a read play to see how they guarded Nick," said Miller, "and it was good to see Matt knock down a big shot in that situation."

Nelson Torres, who represented the Mighty Macs on the All-Tournament team answered that 3, and six minutes later junior Eric Barefield capped a 10-0 Immaculata run that cut Alvernia's lead to just four points, 44-40 with better than 13 minutes to play.

The Crusaders turned to their MVP on successive possessions and Rivera converted twice to double the lead, the first time from Gillis and the second from Cornell.

Barefield, a two-year player on the Alvernia roster who transferred to Immaculta this year, answered with three straight points and Robert Siter scored on a layup to pull within three, 48-45.

This time it was Schatzmann on the immediate response with a jumper and a free throw and the Crusaders methodically ran off nine straight points over the next four minutes to push the lead back to a dozen, 57-45 with 6:30 to play.

Immaculata responded once again with seven straight, but there was Rivera again to stem the tide on a layup in the paint assisted once again by Gillis.

Immaculata freshman Kendall Peters scored on a putback with 3:29 to play, but a jumper from Gillis nine seconds later started Alvernia's game-sealing streak.

Alvernia is 3-0 for the first time since the 02-03 season when it finished 21-9.

The Crusaders continue the home stand hosting St. Joseph's College (N.Y.) on Tuesday as the second game of a doubleheader which opens with the women's team hosting Juniata.

Alvernia 75, Immaculata 61

All Tournament Team
Emmanuel Pittman (VFMA)
Jeremy Beckett (DVC)
Nelson Torres (IU)
Tad Gillis (AU)
Seth Cornell (AU)
MVP - Nick Rivera (AU)