New Britain, Conn. (Nov. 4, 2016) - Central Connecticut State held off a late charge from Alvernia University for a 78-71 win Friday night in an exhibition men's basketball game at Detrick Gymnasium.

The game pitted Alvernia University head coach Mike Miller against his former pupil and now CCSU head coach Donyell Marshall.  For added interest, Marshall's son Marquis is a senior forward for Miller's Crusaders while Donyell Marshall, Jr. is a member of the Blue Devils squad, and Mike Miller, Jr. is a junior guard for his Dad's squad.

CCSU established a 12-5 lead early and held a 31-24 lead at halftime.  The Blue Devils added 10 to that lead in the first four minutes of the second half when Khalen Cumberlander knocked down a 3 for a 47-30 lead.

Alvernia junior Alex Shippen and sophomore George Williams both hit 3s in the early part of a run that spanned nearly nine minutes and Miller, Jr. knocked down a triple of his own with just over seven minutes left that pulled the Crusaders without seven points, 60-53.

The Blue Devils needed just three minutes to build the lead back to 15 points at the under 4 timeout, but the Crusaders came out of the break with Marshall and Miller, Jr. combining for a 9-0 run that spanned barely more than 90 seconds.

Alvernia had the game to 3 points, 74-71 with 32 seconds left, on a 3 from Reid Hoff, and had three shots in the air to cut the gap to two, but couldn't connect and CCSU hit free throws for the final margin.

Miller, Sr. was the head coach at Reading High School when Marshall, Sr. was a varsity basketball player from the 10th to 12th grades.  Marshall, Sr. was a McDonald's All-American in his senior season at Reading, went on to earn All-American honors at the University of Connecticut, and was drafted fourth overall in the 1994 NBA draft where he enjoyed a 15-year career.  After stops as an assistant coach at George Washington, Rider, and Buffalo, Marshall, Sr. was named head coach at CCSU last April.  Friday's game against his former high school coach was his first as a college head coach.

The Blue Devils put five players in double figure led by Cumberlander who had 17.  Williams, a transfer from Lehigh Carbon Community College making his Alvernia debut, led the Crusaders with 21.

This is the second time Alvernia has played a Division I opponent.  The Crusaders put up a fight in an 86-80 loss to Lafayette on November 22, 2005.

Alvernia opens the regular season on November 15, hosting Wesley College.

Central Connecticut State 78, Alvernia 71