BOX SCORE

Lancaster, Pa. (Nov. 15, 2013) - Eighteenth-ranked Middlebury College (1-0) scored the first nine points of the second half and held off a number of charges from #21 Alvernia University (0-1) in game one of the Rotary Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Franklin & Marshall at the Mayser Center.

The Panthers went 4-for-4 from the floor in the opening two mintues of the second half to push a 33-31 halftime lead into a 41-31 advantage.  Another layup for Middlebury a minute later put the score at 46-34.

Alvernia responded with 12 of the next 14 points--eight from leading scorer Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) who finished with 22--to cut the gap to two, but the Crusaders could never get the final bucket to level the score.

The Crusaders cut the gap to two points on three occasions in the second half, the last one on a steal and thunderous dunk from Harrison Deyo (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville), but each time the Panthers responded with an aggressive run.  The final run, a 12-4 spurt, pushed the gap back up to 10 points, 78-68, with 1:13 to play.

Alvernia had all five starters in double figures led by Bennett's 22.  Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa./Chichester) finished with 14 points, and Deyo, Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) and Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) all had 11 apiece.

Middlebury also put five players in double figures led by 24 points from Matt Daley.

The Crusaders turn around and face host Franklin & Marshall on Saturday in the consolation game.  Baruch College knocked off the Diplomats, 61-56, and will face Middlebury in Saturday's championship game.

#18 Middlebury 81, #18 Alvernia 71