BOX SCORE

Lancaster, Pa. (Nov. 16, 2013) - Alvernia University (1-1) scored the final nine points of regulation to force overtime then survived a furious attempt in the final 13 seconds of overtime to escape with a 70-69 win over Franklin & Marshall (0-2) in the consolation game of the Rotary Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament.

Senior point guard Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) started the end of regulation run with a 3-point basket with 2:01 remaining.  After an F&M miss, Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) hit a pair of free throws to cut the gap to four points, 64-60.  Over the next 30 seconds, Harrison Deyo (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) missed two free throws, Davis secured an offensive rebound, but miss a 3, and Deyo missed two more free throws.

F&M committed a turnover nine seconds into its next possession and Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa./Chichester) scored in the paint to cut the game to two, 64-62 with 36 seconds left in regulation.

The Crusaders fouled Morgan Lee and he missed both ends of the double bonus and Parker secured the rebound.  The Crusaders called a timeout with 22 ticks left and Deyo converted a layup assisted by Parker with 10 seconds to go.  F&M got a look at the buzzer, but Shawn Hines was off the mark.

Two Alvernia free throws and a Lee jumper were the only points in the first two minutes of overtime.  The Crusaders scored on a second-chance dunk from Deyo and a layup from Davis with 58 seconds to go put them up three, 70-67.

F&M pulled within one on a pair of free throws with 42 seconds left and Alvernia came up empty on its final possession.  Lee then had a jumper that was off the mark with 13 seonds to go and Gordon Rogo missed a layup attempt with three seconds to play as the Crusaders survived to level their record early in the season.

Parker led all scorers with 24 points, Davis had 16, and Deyo added 15.  F&M put three players in double figures led by Matt Porter who totaled 17.

Parker shot 6-for-6 from the floor in the first half and led the way with 12 points as the Crusaders opened up a 34-26 lead at the break.

The start of the second half was a bit of a nightmare for the Crusaders as F&M opened up with a 17-1 run over the first nine-plus minutes.  Alvernia managed just a lone free throw from Bennett until Parker scored on a layup with 10:21 on the clock.  The Crusaders went 0-for-12 from the floor and committed five turnovers during the run.

F&M pushed its lead to as many as 11 points, 50-39, and held the nine-point lead, 64-55 with 2:13 to play.

Alvernia will host its home opener on Wednsday against Johns Hopkins then open the conference schedule the following Tuesday with a visit to Stevenson.

Alvernia 70, F&M 69 (OT)