Williamsport, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2015) – Lycoming College (4-1, 1-0) scored 45 second-half points en route to an 80-66 win over Alvernia University (4-3, 0-1) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Lamade Gymnasium.
 
The Warriors had four starters reach double figures in scoring and overcame a 39-35 halftime deficit.  Alvernia shot 32 percent from the floor and scored 27 points in the second half—hitting just 2-of-12 from 3-point range.
 
The Warriors got a 3 from T.J. Duckett to break a 46-all tie and spark a 15-4 run that gave the hosts a decided lead midway through the second half.
 
The Crusaders cut the gap back to seven points, but got no closer.
 
Alvernia got a game-high 19 points form Alex Shippen, a dozen from Anthony Hedgepeth, and 11 from Mike Miller Jr.
 
Duckett started the game with a pair of 3-pointers for the Warriors and the host jumped out to an 8-3 lead.  That lead swelled to seven points when Duckett knocked down his third 3 of the game to set a 15-8 score with just over give minutes gone by.
 
Alex Newbold scored on an offensive putback for a 17-8 lead, and the Crusaders brought in Adam Siegrist off the bench for a spark.  Siegrist paid dividends right away with a layup assisted by George Sapp then a 3 from Shippen pulled Alvernia within six, 19-13.
 
Following a two minute scoring drought for both teams, Miller finished up a 3-point play to cut that gap in half.  Miller's 3 at 9:43 had the Crusaders back within a bucket, and a 3-point play from Siegrist put Alvernia up 24-22 with 8:47 left in the half.
 
The lead wasn't more than a possession for either team until Lycoming took a 30-26 lead with 5:37 on the clock.
 
Charles Cooper hit a pair of free throws for Alvernia to start a 9-0 run that chewed up the next three minutes.  Shippen and Hedgepeth also hit free throws during the run and Miller knocked down a 3.
 
Lycoming finally stopped the run with a single free throw, but Hedgepeth gave the Crusaders their largest lead of the half with a bucket, and Alvernia took a 39-35 lead into the break.
 
Lycoming scored the first four points of the second half to force a 39-all tie and the teams traded buckets until Lycoming's 15-4 run.
 
Alvernia is off for finals week and continues the conference schedule next Saturday, December 12 at Messiah.
 
Lycoming 80, Alvernia 66