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Reading, Pa. (Feb. 4, 2009) - Eastern University (13-6, 7-5) put together a 34-11 second-half run to take a 13-point lead with 22 seconds to play en route to a 77-71 win over Alvernia University (9-12, 5-7) Wednesday evening in Freedom Conference men's basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

Alvernia shot a scorching 66 percent in the first half to offset 16 turnovers and take a 31-30 lead at the break.  The lead grew to 11 points in the second half for the Crusaders when Tim Walters (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) hit a pair of free throws with 13:14 to play.

The lead was 10 points, 51-41 with 11:44 to play before Eastern ran off nine of 11 to pull within three points, 53-50 at 9:24.  The Eagles took a 56-55 lead on a Martin Soaries (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) layup, and the lead was just a point for Eastern four times in the next four minutes, the last after an Eric Barefield (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) free throw.

The Crusaders then went cold from the floor missing five straight shots and commiting a turnover as Eastern ran off 12 straight to pull ahead 75-62 with 22 seconds to play.  Alvernia finally caught fire hitting three 3s in the final 20 seconds, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

Eastern got a game-high 18 points from Soaries, 15 from Jason Reels (Paterson, N.J./Hawthorne Christian Academy), and 14 from freshman Tyrik Tucker (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Ford) who only played 21 minutes due to foul trouble.

Alvernia was led by Jeff Amponsah (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Carson Long Military Academy) who tallied 15, Nick Rivera (Reading, Pa./Holy Name) scored a dozen, and Walters finished with 10.

Both teams combined to shoot 70 free thorws with Eastern hitting 32-of-41 including 12-of-14 in the last 78 seconds.

Alvernia is currently tied for sixth place in the Freedom Conference just a half game out of a playoff spot with four games to play.  The Crusaders host King's College on Saturday in a men's and women's doubleheader at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Eastern 77, Alvernia 71