BOX SCORE

Center Valley, Pa. (Jan. 4, 2012) - Freshman forward Terrance Bridgers (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) scored nine of his game-high 19 during a 16-1 game-deciding run in the second half and was named tournament MVP leading Alvernia University (8-3) to the title of the Red Robin Holiday Tournament with a 68-64 win over Berkeley College (8-5) Wednesday evening at DeSales University.

Alvernia, which has now held five straight opponents under 65 points and is now 4-0 at the DeSales Holiday Tournament, seemed to be in some trouble allowing the Knights to shoot 55 percent in the first half and open up a 7-point lead at the break, 39-32.  The Crusaders ran off a 9-2 run to start the second half--getting six of the nine from senior Cory Boone (Howard, Pa./Bald Eagle)--to tie the game at 41-all, and facing a 49-47 deficit Bridgers scored on a layup and a breakaway dunk to spark the 16-1 run that put the Crusaders comfortably ahead with just under six minutes to play.

Berkeley was able to cut the lead down to two points in the final minute as the Crusaders went scoreless from the floor over the last four, but Boone hit a pair of free throws--aided by a lane violation--for a 4-point cushion with seven seconds to play and the Knights were off the mark on their final 3.

Boone finished with an efficient 17 points going 5-of-7 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line and joined Bridgers on the All-Tournament Team.  Brian Nerney (Middletown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) had 13 points with eight rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals, and Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) added 12 points and four assists.

The Crusaders scored the first four points of the game, but needed to battle back from a 7-point deficit midway through the opening half.  Thompson and Bridgers scored five points apiece during a 13-6 run that forced a 31-all tie with three-plus minutes left before the break, but Berkeley came back with eight of the last nine points of the half for the 39-32 halftime lead.

Berkeley put four players in double figures led by 17 from Kaseem Williams who went 8-for-20 from the floor.  He and Jose Stable (16 points, eight rebounds) were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

Alvernia returns home for a matchup of last year's Commonwealth and Freedom Conference winners when it hosts Delaware Valley College at 3:00 p.m.

All-Tournament Team
Terrance Bridgers (Alvernia) - MVP
Cory Boone (Alvernia)
Kaseem Williams (Berkeley)
Jose Stable (Berkeley)
Kyle Hash (DeSales)
Rob Duquette (SUNY-Potsdam)