Frederick, Md. (Jan. 6, 2016) - Senior guard Charles Cooper knocked down seven 3s and scored a season-high 28 points as Alvernia University (6-7, 2-2) got back on a winning track with a 65-61 win at Hood College (8-6, 2-3) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action.

Cooper finished the game two shy of his school record nine 3s and six points shy of his career high 34 points which he set last February in a conference semifinal win at Lycoming.

Cooper got started right away Wednesday at Hood knocking down two 3s in the first three possessions for the Crusaders.  Marquis Marshall hit a 3 and followed with a jumper to give the Crusaders an 11-2 lead just four minutes into play.

Another Cooper 3 at the 12:33 mark gave the Crusaders their first double-digit lead of the night at 18-8, and that grew to 15 points, 26-11 at 8:31, on a 3 from Alex Shippen.  Alvernia held the 15-point lead at 35-20 after another 3 from Shippen with 2:05 left in the first half, but Hood was able to score back-to-back buckets to close the half and set a 35-24 score at the break.

Alvernia finished the first half 6-of-18 from the arc and went 6-for-8 from inside the arc.  Cooper led the way with 14 points for the Crusaders.

Cooper started the second half with another 3, but Hood was able to answer with seven straight points to cut the gap to seven, 38-31.  Reid Hoff--who was 2-for-2 from the arc--knocked down a 3 and Cooper hit back-to-back 3s to push the lead to 16 points, 47-31.

Once again Hood rallied scoring 10 of the next 12 to pull within eight points, but Alvernia answered with 3s from Shippen, Cooper, and Hoff to create some distance.

Hood made it close in the final minute hitting two 3s in the final 36 seconds, but couldn't close the gap inside the final four-point spread.

Alvernia finished the night 13-of-34 from the arc led by Cooper who was 7-for-14.  Marshall and Shippen both scored 11 points and Hoff added eight points and eight boards.  Alvernia got all 65 points from the starters.  Hood got a team-high 15 points from Davon Hill.

The Crusaders continue the conference schedule on Saturday at Widener.

Alvernia 65, Hood 61