BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 28, 2009) - Junior guard Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) reached double figures for the fourth straight game with a game-high 20 points Saturday afternoon leading Alvernia University (5-0) to a 63-44 win over McDaniel College (2-2) in non-conference men's basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

Sophomore Tad Gillis (Williamsport, Pa./Upper Darby) totaled 11 points, six steals, and four assists, and senior Nick Rivera (Reading, Pa./Holy Name) posted 11 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double, but the Crusaders truly got it done on defense.

"We put a lot of pressure on the ball," recalled Alvernia head coach Mike Miller in a post game interview.  "I'm really happy with our guard play right now.  Cornell was getting layups off steals and in transition.  Tad had four assists and we just keep looking at his line, and you know he's guarding his man."

Cornell reached a quiet 20 hitting 7-of-9 from the floor including a 3 and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line helping the Crusaders average out some pretty ugly nights at the stripe by shooting 16-for-20 as a team.

They stayed after it on the glass as well outrebounding the Terror 31-26.  "I've told the guys if we can stay close to even on the boards with any team that's bigger than us, that's a win," said Miller.

McDaniel started three players at 6-3 or better on Saturday, but the Crusaders countered by staying consistent on the defensive end limiting their opponent to just one offensive rebound in the first half and won the battle of the boards for the fourth time in five games.  Rivera's 10 caroms led the way, but three others pitched in with at least four boards apiece.

McDaniel opened the scoring on Saturday on Steve Wilson's (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) bucket, but Cornell scored seven of the next nine points and the Crusaders never trailed again.

The Green Terror cut the lead to three on back-to-back 3s from Miguel Jones (Baltimore, Md./North County), but Alvernia freshman Matt Schatzmann (Paradise, Pa./Pequea Valley) answered with his only 3 of the day and the Crusaders built the lead to 10 points, 23-13 following a Cornell free throw.

"We got a big bucket out of a time out," said Miler.  "Nerney got the back door pass and that was huge for us."

Huge because it pushed the lead back to 10 and sparked a 6-0 run that put the hosts up 14 late in the first half.

McDaniel had it inside 10 only once in the second half following another Jones bucket, but Cornell knocked down his only 3 of the day and finished with four points during a 15-4 run that put the Crusaders comfortably ahead by 20 points, 45-25 with under 12 minutes to play.

Rivera struggled from the floor hitting just 4-of-16 shots, but pulled through with nine defensive boards and had three assists, three steals, and three blocked shots with zero turnovers.

McDaniel put a pair of players in double figures led by Jones with 11.  Louis Sarris-Grau (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower) came off the bench to add 10.

Alvernia hits the road on Monday for a non-conference game at Rowan.  "We've been at home a lot so far," explained Miller--four out of the first five have been at the PEC.  "I wanted to stick a tough road game in there before we start the leagues playing the favorite on the road." 

The Crusaders are at Commonwealth favorite Elizabethtown next Wednesday and follow that with the first ever conference game against crosstown rival Albright next Saturday.

Alvernia 63, McDaniel 44