BOX SCORE

Elizabethtown, Pa. (Feb. 8, 2014) – Senior point guard Chris Davis (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) handed out eight assists to become the Alvernia University career assist leader and all five starters scored in double figures as the Crusaders (15-6, 10-4) picked up an important road win with a 80-74 win at Elizabethtown College (7-13, 4-9) Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Elizabethtown.

Davis entered the game two assists short of Chris Alba's ('02) career-record 416 helpers.  He tied the mark with an assist to Kahlil Bennett (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) at 14:46 of the first half then broke it when Bennett knocked down a 3 two possessions later that tied the game at 13-all with 13:40 left in the half.

"It feels good [to get the record]," said Davis after the game, "but just as good to get the win on top of that.  Seeing all these good guards that played here before me, it feels good to get a record like that."

Etown put together a 11-3 run to break the tie and established a 24-16 lead on a 3 from Ryan Borzager.  The Jays were 6-for-12 from the arc in the first half and finished 9-for-25 from long range.

Bennett hit a big 3 to stop the Etown run and two minutes later Davis set him up for another 3 that pulled the Crusaders within two points, 26-24.  Junior reserve Kirby Turner (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the score at 26-all.

Bennett was fouled attempting a 3 in the final minute of the half and knocked down all three free throws to put the Crusaders up four.  Andrew Mantz knocked in a tip-in at the first-half buzzer and the Crusaders led 40-38 at the break.

Neither team led by more than a possession in the second half until Alvernia put together a 12-2 run for a 67-58 lead with 7:18 to play.  Bennett hit a pair of 3s on the run and Brian Parker (Chichester, Pa./Chichester) capped it with a layup assisted by Davis.  Bennett finished the night 6-of-12 from the arc.

Alvernia still had a 9-point lead with under two minutes to play and that all but disappeared as Etown got five points from Tyler Simpkiss in a 9-3 run that cut the Alvernia lead down to one possession, 77-74 with 19 seconds left.

Bennett hit a pair of free throws to push the lead back to five points and Joe Schwalm missed a 3 at the other end.

Parker hit one free for the final margin.

Bennett led the way with 27 points for the Crusaders.  Parker scored 15, Harrison Deyo (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) scored 13, Lamont Clark (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) had 11 and Davis finished with 10.  Etown got 16 points and 12 rebounds from Lee Eckert.

Alvernia stays within a game of Messiah College and moved back a half game ahead of Hood College with lost to Widener.  Stevenson University remains a game behind Alvernia while Albright is three back following a loss on Saturday at Lebanon Valley with is a half-game out of the playoffs but holds the tie-breaker over Albright.

The Crusaders have a pivotal game against Arcadia at home on Wednesday.

Alvernia 80, Elizabethtown 74