Annville, Pa. (Jan. 17, 2015) - Junior guard Charles Cooper stole an inbounds pass and converted a quick layup to help Alvernia University (9-6, 4-3) steal a 71-69 win over Lebanon Valley College (10-6, 4-3) Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Sorrentino Gymnasium.

LVC drew a charge with 12 seconds left and defending a one-point lead.  Cooper stole the inbounds pass and gave the Crusaders a 70-69 lead.  The Dutchmen had a look at the other end, but leading scorer Kevin Agnew couldn't knock down a 3.  Mike Miller grabbed the rebound for the Crusaders and was fouled with three seconds left.  He hit 1-of-2 free throws and the Dutchmen couldn't generate a look on the rebound.

Alvernia had four starters reach double figures led by Cooper's 18.  Harrison Deyo contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds.  Miller finished with 15 points and Lamont Clark scored 14.  LVC got a game-high 24 points from freshman Andy Orr.

Alvernia took the first substantial lead of the game when a 3 from Miller and a jumper from Clark put the guests up 19-10 with 11:56 left in the first.  LVC quickly answered with a jumper from Agnew and a 3 from Travis Conrad.

The Dutchmen cut the gap down to one point with under two minutes left on the clock and forced a 30-30 halftime tie on a jumper from Luke Burgeson.

LVC had a seven point second half lead--its largest of the day--with nine minutes left, but another Deyo jumper and a 3 from Miller cut that to two points and a 3 from Cooper gave Alvernia a 56-54 lead.

Two minutes later, another Cooper 3 had the Crusaders up six points, 62-56, with 5:07 to play.  Cooper finished 5-of-10 from the arc.

LVC quickly cut the gap to one then took a 68-66 lead when Orr knocked down a 3 with 1:29 to play.

Clark hit a jumper with under a minute to go to tie the score at 68-all and Agnew hit 1-of-2 free throws before the Cooper steal.

Alvernia climbs into a tie with Lebanon Valley and Stevenson for second place in the league and will return home to host Albright on Wednesday.

Alvernia 71, Lebanon Valley 69