Reading, Pa. (Feb. 11, 2015) – Senior Lamont Clark scored a career-high 23 points—including the 1,000^th of his career—and Alvernia University head coach Mike Miller picked up win number 200 as the Crusaders (12-9, 7-6) scored a 79-69 win over Stevenson University (16-6, 9-4) Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.
 
The Crusaders snapped a two-game losing streak and pulled into a three-way tie for third place in the conference with three games to go.  The team win was all Clark wanted to talk about after the game.
 
"We didn't want to lose three in a row," said Clark.  "It's bad enough to lose two in a row.  I actually feel happier about the win than scoring 1,000.  I was happy for Coach Miller because he lost two straight.  He was supposed to get it two games ago."
 
Clark becomes the 23^rd player in team history to reach 1,000 career points and did it on his sixth point of the night, a driving jumper with 12:08 left in the first half that put the Crusaders up 14-6.
 
Miller is the second men's coach at Alvernia to reach 200 career wins.  He is 27 behind Jack McCloskey for the program lead.
 
"It's nice," said Miller of two milestones on the same evening.  "It's good for the program.  It shows this team wins a lot of games and Lamont shows that he's had four great years."
 
Clark started the decisive run for the Crusaders in the second half with a layup that sparked a 13-4 spurt over three minutes that put the hosts up 67-53 with three-plus minutes left.
 
Stevenson cut the 14-point gap down to seven points with 2:27 to play, but got no closer as Mike Miller hit four straight free throws to push the gap back to double digits.
 
Clark added eight rebounds to his game high 23 points.  Chuck Cooper scored 18 points, Miller finished with 14, and Harrison Deyo added 11.  Stevenson had four players in double figures led by Christian Roberts who tallied 16 points before fouling out late in the game.
 
Stevenson had a 4-2 lead early, but it was the only lead of the night for the Mustangs. 
 
They tied the score twice after that in the first half, but Alvernia had an answer both times with Kirby Turner converting a 3-point play to break the 28-all tie and Cooper knocking down a jumper assisted by Clark to break a 31-all tie.
 
Alvernia took a 35-33 lead into the break, and had a four-point lead, 53-49 with 9:20 to go before Clark started the decisive run.
 
"He was very good," said Miller of his senior leader.  "Every loose rebound and handling pressure.  His overall effort was the old Lamont.  Which we're gonna need in all these games."
 
Lycoming remains in first place following a win over Arcadia.  Stevenson is now a game and a half back in second with Arcadia and Hood joining Alvernia in the tie for third.  Lebanon Valley is a game out of the final playoff spot in sixth place.
 
Alvernia heads to Widener on Saturday then hosts Lebanon Valley next Tuesday before closing the regular season at Albright next Saturday.
 
Alvernia 79, Stevenson 69