Gettysburg, Pa. (Nov. 18, 2016) - Junior Mike Miller, Jr. hit a tie-breaking 3 at the end of the shot clock with five seconds left in the game helping Alvernia University (2-0) to a 67-66 win over Wittenberg (0-1) Friday evening in non-conference men's basketball action at the Gettysburg Tip-Off Tournament.

The Crusaders were hit with a technical foul when players from the bench were on the floor celebrating what they thought was a game-ending play.  Wittenberg hit both free throws to pull within one point, but on the final possession, Alvernia junior Alex Shippen stole a pass to the post to seal the win for Alvernia.

Alvernia senior Marquis Marshall led the Crusaders with 23 points, Shippen added 13, and Miller finished with 12.  All three played 40 minutes for the Crusaders.

Alvernia scored 10 of the last 12 points of the first half to take a 30-22 lead into the break.

The second half lead grew to as many as 14 points for the Crusaders, 46-32, but the Tigers went 10-for-11 from the floor and put together a 23-6 run to take a 55-52 lead with seven minutes to play.

Wittenberg built the lead up to six points, 64-58 with 2:28 to play, but Miller, Jr., who was 2-for-9 from the arc to this point, hit a 3 to cut that lead in half.  The Tigers missed 3s on successive possessions before Shippen scored from the arc to tie the game at 64-all with 1:02 to play.  Wittenberg called a timeout to setup a play and got a look in the paint, but couldn't convert.  The Tigers, who finished with a 42-24 lead on the glass, grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a quick foul.  They missed both free throws leaving the game tied.

Alvernia called a timeout with 27 seconds left and ended up with Miller, Jr.'s look from NBA range at the top of the circle as the shot clock sounded.

The Crusaders advance to the championship game of the Gettysburg Tournament and will face Delaware Valley College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Alvernia 67, Wittenberg 66