BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Feb. 21, 2009) – First-place DeSales University (12-4 Freedom, 20-5 overall) proved to be too much for Alvernia University (6-10, 10-15) this afternoon in Freedom Conference action as they handed the Crusaders a 65-62 loss. Alvernia will not advance to the conference play-offs beginning Wed. Feb. 25. Crusader seniors David Washington (Durham, NC/Northern Durham), Jeff Amponsah (Far Rockaway, NY/Carson Long), Tyrone Bradley (Chester, PA/Chester), Tim Walters (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Wood) and Derek Dubbs (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) were honored before the start of the game and all five seniors started the game for Alvernia. 

Alvernia got on the board first with a quick layup from Bradley to start the game and would hang onto the lead for most of the first half. Senior Walters fueled the Crusaders' quick jump ahead, scoring eight of Alvernia's first ten points, and sophomore Eric Barefield (Ardmore, PA/Lower Merion) would follow up with back-to-back lay-ups to give the Crusaders a five point lead. Their lead would grow to eight at two different times in the first half, but DeSales went on a 16-5 run to end the second half and head into halftime with a three point lead. DeSales was lead by Darnell Braswell who netted 14 points and grabbed four rebounds in the first half. Walters put up ten for Alvernia in the first half and Bradley pulled down four rebounds in the first half. 

The second half started much as the first one ended with DeSales continuing their run. Ed Lapinski connected three consecutive lay-ups to give DeSales their biggest lead of the game at nine. The Crusaders managed to keep pace with the explosive Bulldog offense and put together an impressive 11-0 run to give themselves a four point lead with 9:36 remaining in the game. After a DeSales jumper to cut Alvernia's lead to two, Washington drained a three to put Alvernia up by 5. DeSales quickly answered with five of their own to tie the game at 54 with 6:33 remaining. Despite the Crusaders taking the brief one-point lead with just under five minutes remaining, DeSales held on for the four point win thanks to a three pointer from Braswell with 1:14 left to play. Neither team would score after Braswell's three, for a 65-62 final. 

Alvernia was led by Walters with 18 points and junior Charlie Hughes (Kenhorst, PA/Governor Mifflin) who added 12. 

DeSales 65, Alvernia 62