BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 20, 2013) - Alvernia University (2-1) broke a 55-all tie with seven straight points and put together a 26-10 run over the final 10 minutes to take an 81-65 decision over Johns Hopkins (1-2) Wednesday evening in non-conference men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

"Our intensity, defensively, the second half won that game," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller after the win.  "We've played six halves right now and that's the most intensity we've played with and that's what turned the game over.  Just good, hard, intense defense."

Alvernia held Hopkins to 3-for-9 shooting over the final 10 minutes--one of those a 3 in the final seconds--and forced six turnovers.  Senior Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) scored nine of his game-high 21 points during the run including a pair of rhythm 3s from in front of the home bench.

"Obviously, Kahlil Bennett had a solid game," continued Miller.  "And Chris Davis, eight assists and hit a big 3."

The Davis 3--his only bucket of the night--came after Hopkins hit a free throw to stop Alvernia's run of seven straight and pushed the Crusader lead from six to nine, 65-56 with 6:15 to play.

Reserve guard Chuck Cooper (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) had a big night for the Crusaders scoring 14 of his career-high tying 16 in the first half.

"Against their match-up zone Cooper gave us a nice lift off the bench with his shooting," said Miller.

Cooper went 4-for-7 from the floor hitting three 3s in nine minutes in the first half keeping the Crusaders close with Hopkins hitting 5-of-9 from the arc in the opening half.  The Blue Jays held a seven-point lead twice in the opening half and settled for a four-point lead at the break, 37-33.

Bennett knocked down a 3 to knot the game at 39-all and the Jays evened out a thunderous dunk from Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa./Chichester) with a pair of free throws when Parker was whistled for a technical foul after slapping the backboard.

Alvernia went back up six points, 49-43, with Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Parkesburg) scoring back-to-back and-one drives to the hoop, but Hopkins battled back to tie the game at 55-all midway through the second half.

Parker started the late run with a layup and Harrison Deyo (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) kept it going with his own 3-point play.

Alvernia put five players in double figures.  Clark finished with 14, Parker 12, and Deyo with 10.  Hopkins had one player reach double digits getting a team-high 11 from Jimmy Hammer.

The Crusaders have a week to prepare for the conference opener next Tuesday at Stevenson.

Alvernia 81, Johns Hopkins 65