Chester, Pa. (Jan. 9, 2016) - Alvernia University (7-7, 3-2) put together a 10-2 run in the deciding minutes of a 63-61 win at Widener University (5-8, 1-4) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth Conference men's basketball action at Widener.

The Crusaders--who had opened up a 29-13 lead midway through the first half--trailed 53-51 with 6:48 to play.  Marquis Marshall knocked down a 3 and Charles Cooper followed with a pair of free throws.  Widener scored single free throws on either side of a George Sapp layup and Alex Shippen hit a 3 to give Alvernia a 61-55 lead with 1:02 to play.  Widener went 0-for-6 from the floor during the 5-plus minutes with one turnover.

Widener was able to cut the gap to four points with the Crusaders going 2-for-4 from the free throw line then hit a layup just before the final horn.

Shippen and Cooper opened the game with back-to-back 3s for the Crusaders who hit their first five 3s in building a 20-4 lead.  The lead remained 16 points, 29-13, after another Shippen 3 at the 6:26 mark.

Widener's Ryan McMahon was able to answer the Shippen 3 and sparked a run of 10 straight that cut the Crusaders' lead down to six with 2:47 left in the half, then down to five points by the halftime break, 34-29.

The Alvernia lead grew back to nine points early in the second half, but Widener was able to level the game at 41-all then took its first lead, 43-41 with 11:40 left in the game.

The Crusaders knocked down 12-of-27 attempts from the 3-point line.  It's the second straight game and fourth this season they have hit double digits in 3s made.

Cooper led the way for the Crusaders with 19 points and has 968 for his career.  Marshall finished with 16 points and nine rebounds and George Sapp added 10 points and five assists.

Alvernia returns home to continue the conference schedule hosting Arcadia on Wednesday.

Alvernia 63, Widener 61