Reading, Pa. (Jan. 16, 2016) - Marquis Marshall racked up the Crusaders first double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds leading Alvernia University (8-8, 4-3) to a 61-42 win over Stevenson University (5-11, 3-4) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

The Crusaders found themselves down 25-23 at the half, but put together a 38-point second half and held the Mustangs to just 17 points after the break to pull away.  Charles Cooper scored 15 points hitting 9-of-9 free throws and pulled down nine boards.  He has 993 career points heading into the rivalry game at Albright on Wednesday.  George Sapp ran an efficient game at the point scoring 12 points with a pair of assists and no turnovers.

Stevenson struggled to shoot the ball going 19-for-55 from the floor (25 percent), including just 1-of-10 from the arc.  The Mustangs also hit just 3-of-12 free throws.

Stevenston took an early 10-5 lead and held the two-point edge at the half.  Both teams went 1-for-5 from the arc in the first half.  The Crusaders shot 7-for-24 from the floor over the first 20 minutes, but still trailed by just two.

Alvernia took a 29-27 lead four minutes into the second half on a fastbreak layup from Cooper.  Stevenson scored just six points in the first 10 minutes of the second half and a tip-in from Marshall put the Crusaders up 41-31.

Stevenson had the gap down to eight points, 48-40 with 5:20 to play, but Alvernia answered with six straight points over the next three minutes getting two each from Cooper, Marshall, and Sapp to establish a comfortable lead.

The 42-point output is the lowest by Stevenson this season after scoring 47 in a loss to York on opening night.  It's the best defensive effort for the Crusaders by far this season having previously held Messiah College to 58 points.

Alvernia sits in fourth place in the league standings--a game up on Albright ahead of Wednesday nights first of two games this season between the crosstown rivals.  Wednesday also marks the final game of the first cycle through the league for all MAC Commowealth teams.  The Crusaders start the second half of the league schedule next Saturday hosting Widener.

Alvernia 61, Stevenson 42