Reading, Pa. (Feb. 20, 2013) - Top-seeded Alvernia University (21-5) opens the Commonwealth Conference men's basketball championships hosting #4 Arcadia University (16-10) Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

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The Crusaders--ranked #1 in the Mid-Atlantic Region and just outside the d3hoops.com Top 25 poll--finished as the top seed in the conference with a 15-3 record and defeated the Knights twice this season.  Arcadia won its final game of the regular season to get in as the four seed then defeated #5 Stevenson 85-83 Monday in the only quarterfinal game of the 5-team tournament.  #2 Albright College will host #3 Lycoming College in Wednesday's other semifinal.  The winners meet in the final Saturday at the highest remaining seed.

Alvernia defeated Arcadia at home, 72-65, back in mid-January aided by a late 3 from junior Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge), then handled the Knights, 64-47, in Glendside back on Feb. 6.

Alvernia enters Wednesday night's game with a record of 52-6 all-time against its former Pennsylvania Athletic Conference rival.  This is the first postseason meeting between the two.

Alvernia brings four players into the conference championships averaging double figures led by Bennett at 14.7 points per game.  Arcadia also has four players over 10 points per game led by Kahlief Trawick at 13.7.

This is Arcadia's first appearance in the Commonwealth Championships.  Alvernia is making its second appearance since joining the league four years ago.  The Crusaders were top seed two years ago when they won the title and last made an appearance in the NCAA Championships.

Commonwealth Conference Men's Basketball Championships Schedule
Monday, Feb. 18
@ #4 Arcadia 85, #5 Stevenson 83

Wednesday, Feb. 20
7:00 p.m. - #3 Lycoming @ #2 Albright
7:00 p.m. - #4 Arcadia @ #1 Alvernia

Saturday, Feb. 23
TBA - Semifinal winners @ higher seed