Washington, D.C. (Mar. 5, 2015) - Catholic University (22-5) shot 56 percent from the floor and made 30 free throws in an 87-80 win over Alvernia University (18-10) Thursday evening in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships at the DuFour Center.

Alvernia started the game with a 9-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Mike Miller, but Catholic responded with a 19-6 run, and eventually opened up a 33-20 lead whle the Crusaders went cold from the floor.

The Cardinals held a 37-24 lead at halftime hitting 15-of-25 shots from the floor and holding a 15-8 rebounding advantage.

The second half lead hit 17 points, 43-26, on a jumper from Bryson Fonville with 17:19 left in the game before the Crusaders started to mount the comeback.

Harrison Deyo scored on back-to-back jumpers and Charles Cooper converted a 3-point play to cut the gap to 10 then freshman Alex Shippen knocked down a 3 from the top of the key to cut the gap to seven points, 43-36, with 14:18 to go.

Catholic built its lead back to 15 points, 64-49, with 6:00 to play, but Alvernia had one final charge in it.

Cooper hit a 3 to cap a 9-2 run as the Crusaders cut the deficit to eight points with just over three minute to play, but the Cardinals hit enough free throws over the final three minutes--21-of-29 to be exact--to maintain their lead.

Fonville went 20-of-21 from the line in the game and scored a game-high 38 points.  Deyo led the Crusaders with a career-high 27 points on 11-for-13 shooting.  Lamont Clark finished with 20 points for the Crusaders and Cooper added 19.  Catholic got all 87 points from its starting lineup, and 81 of the total from four players.

The Cardinals move on to the second round at #1 Randolph Macon on Saturday.  Alvernia concludes the season with its third straight NCAA Championship appearance.

Catholic 87, Alvernia 80