Reading, Pa. (Nov. 14, 2013) - Alvernia University Men's Basketball won its second Commonwealth Conference Championship at the end of the 2012-13 season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships.  The Crusaders enter the 2013-14 season looking to build on and surpass that success.

The Crusaders return four of five starters from last year's team led by senior Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa. / Chichester) who averaged 14.7 points.  Parker was a force down the stretch pouring in 27.8 points per game over the last four games.  He was named Commonwealth Championship MVP leading Alvernia to a 69-66 win over #4 Arcadia University in the semifinal and a 78-68 win over #3 Lycoming College in the final. 

Parker, Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J. / Old Bridge) , and Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) all averaged over 10 points last season. Bennett shot over 37 percent behind the 3-point line and was the team's second leading scorer with 14.2 points.  Has an opportunity to improve on his number from last year with the loss of Terrance Bridgers (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby).

Clark averaged 11.6 points per game and was a break out star of the team in the 2012-13 season.  Clark's most impressive game came in the team's first NCAA contest against Albertus Magnus.  He recorded 23 points in only 29 minutes, tailing five assists, and was a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line.  In the final four games he made all but one free-throw (22-23) and averaged 14.5 points per game in that stretch.

Senior Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa. / Norristown) Alvernia's leading helper from last year recorded 5.0 assists per game as well as 7.2 points.  Davis led the team in minutes last year and will return as the point guard in the upcoming season.  Davis was key in a 74-64 win over Hood College when he scored 17 points, pulled down five rebounds, and tallied four assists.

Alvernia has added three incoming freshmen to the rosters.  Matt O'Keefe is a 6-3 forward from Blackwood, N.J. / Paul VI.  O'Keefe was a team captain, second team all conference, and his team won the conference championship three years in a row.  Kevin Metz is a 6-4 Forward from Yardley, Pa. / Notre Dame.  Metz's team won the Mercer County championship.  Mike Miller is a 6-2 Guard from Reading, Pa. / Berks Catholic.  Miller was All League three years in a row.  His team won Berks county and District 3 titles in 2011 and 2012.

The Crusaders are ranked #21 by d3hoops.com and open the season against #18 Middlebury at the Franklin & Marshall Tip-Off.  The Panthers were champions of the NESCAC last year and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.  They are led by d3hoops.com Preseason All-American Guard Joey Kizel (Short Hills, N.J.). 

Alvernia opens the Commonwealth schedule early with a road game at Stevenson University on November 26th at 8:00 p.m. then follows with Lycoming and Albright at home.  All three team were picked in the top five in the Commonwealth Preseason Coaches Poll.  Alvernia is raked first, followed by Stevenson at two, and Albright is fifth.

Other highlights in the schedule include non-conference games against SUNY Old Westbury, on December 30th, who was picked second in the Skyline Conference preseason poll.  The Panthers finished a program best 25-4 record.  The Crusaders also face Dickinson College who advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year.  The Red Devils' Gerry Wixted was named to the 2014 Preseason All-America Team.  The two will meet December 18th at 6:00 p.m. at Carlisle, Pa.

The team's home opener is Wednesday, November 30th against Johns Hopkins at 8:00 PM.

The Commonwealth Championships tip off with a 4/5 quarterfinal game on Monday, February 24th with the Championship game scheduled for Saturday, March 1st.

Commonwealth Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

1)	Alvernia	80 (8)
2)	Stevenson	69 (1)
3)	Messiah	68 (1)
4)	Arcadia	52
5)	Albright	47
6)	Lycoming	44
T7)	Hood	31
T7)	Widener	31
9)	Lebanon Valley	15
10)	Elizabethtown	13

(*) denotes first place votes