Reading, Pa. (Feb. 23, 2015) – Fourth-seeded Alvernia University (16-9) hit 6-of-7 shots from the floor in overtime and went 7-for-7 from the line in the extra period for an 87-80 win over #5 Arcadia University (14-12) Monday evening in first round action of the Commonwealth Conference Men's Basketball Championships at Jack McCloskey Court.
 
Arcadia scored the final eight points of regulation to force the overtime period.  After a 3 from Charles Cooper put the Crusaders up 67-59 with 3:05 left, the hosts went 0-for-2 from the floor with three untimely turnovers.
 
"We knew we blew it and they had all the momentum," said Miller on the end of regulation.  "We didn't finish right, but we couldn't have played a better overtime."
 
Alvernia put 20 points on the board in the extra five minutes, but it was the defense that Miller wanted to key on.
 
"It was a couple of plays,' said Miller.  "Kirby [Turner]'s especially.  We switched that side screen and he stole it and then once we doubled that and we got it too.  That was two big stops in there."
 
Turner picked the pocket of Arcadia guard John Landro midway through overtime leading to a Cooper breakaway layup, and a throwaway from Arcadia's Ryan Kelley preceded a dunk from Alvernia senior Harrison Deyo that put the Crusaders up 81-71 with under a minute left in overtime.
 
Deyo opened the overtime period with a layup in the post, which Landro answered with a mid-range jumper.
 
Lamont Clark converted a 3-point play and Cooper deflected a Kelley 3 that Deyo collected.  Mike Miller hit a dagger of a 3 on the next Alvernia possession with the shot clock running down for a six-point lead, and Cooper went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal it.
 
The win keeps the Crusaders perfect in Commonwealth Tournament games having won seven straight since joining the league for the 2009-10 season.  The streak travels to top-seeded Lycoming for a semifinal matchup on Wednesday.  Second-seeded Stevenson hosts #3 Hood in the other semifinal.  The Championship Final is Saturday at the higher remaining seed.
 
Cooper—who finished with a game-high 31 points—hit a 3 to open the game and the Crusaders put together a solid run midway through the first period to take an eight-point lead, 26-18.
 
The spread was the same with a minute to go in a period before a parade to the free throw line ended in a 5-2 run for Arcadia and a 41-36 Alvernia lead at the break.
 
The second half lead hit eight points on three occasions including the 67-59 lead before Arcadia's 8-0 run.
 
Landro started the run with a tough 3-point play in the lane, Jose Figueroa added a layup, and Landro knocked down a 3 with 30 seconds left to force the second tie of the night.
 
Alvernia had a chance on the final possession calling a timeout to setup a play that resulted in an off-balance 3-point attempt from Miller.
 
All five starters went over 40 minutes for the Crusaders led by Clark and Miller who both played all 45.  Deyo finished the night with 21 points, Miller had 16, and Clark threw in a solid line of 13 points, a career high 11 assists, and nine rebounds.
 
Arcadia put all five starters in double figures led by Landro who finished with 17.
 
Wednesday's game at Lycoming tips off at 7:00 p.m.
 
#4 Alvernia 87, #5 Arcadia 80