Reading, Pa. (Jan. 16, 2016) – Arcadia University (11-4, 4-2) closed the game with an 11-2 run over the final seven minutes to seal a 69-61 win over Alvernia University (7-8, 3-3) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.
 
Alvernia took a 59-58 lead at the 7:40 mark when Marquis Marshall slammed home a putback on a Charles Cooper miss, but the Crusaders managed just two more points—on a jumper from Marshall—the rest of the way as the Knights went 3-for-6 from the floor with a pair of free throws over the final six-plus minutes.
 
Arcadia got a game-high 22 points from Josh Scott who hit all 10 of his attempts from inside the arc.  Alvernia got 18 from Alex Shippen who hit five of his first seven attempts from the arc and finished with a career-high six 3s.
 
Arcadia shot 53 percent from the floor in the game including 7-for-15 from the arc.
 
Alvernia opened the game with four points from Marquis Marshall on a pair of free throws and a putback.  Following the Knights first bucket of the game at the 18:02 mark the teams combined for 14 points in two minutes capped by 3s from Arcadia's John Landro and Alvernia's Reid Hoff.
 
The 3s continued to rain with Kyle Reilly knocking one down for the Knights and Charles Cooper answering for the Crusaders for an 18-17 Alvernia lead with 12:05 left in the first half.  Eight minutes into the game the teams combined to shoot 7-of-11 from the 3-point line.
 
Ryan Kelley's 3 at 9:21 forged a 20-all tie and the Knights used that to propel a 17-7 run to take a 34-27 lead with 4:31 left in the half.
 
Alex Shippen knocked down a pair of 3s in a 90-second stretch as the Crusaders cut the gap to three, 38-35, but Arcadia was able to push back to a five point lead at the break, 42-37.
 
Arcadia hit 6-of-9 from the 3-point line in the half, and Alvernia went 7-for-17 from the arc.
 
Arcadia pushed the lead up to seven points early in the second half, but the Crusaders stormed back putting together a 13-4 run capped by a 3 from Shippen that put the hosts up 52-50 with 14:28 to play.
 
The lead changed hands twice before Marshall's dunk set the 59-58 score.
 
Alvernia—which plays six of the next seven at home—continues the conference schedule Saturday hosting Stevenson.
 
Arcadia 69, Alvernia 61