Glenside, Pa. (Feb. 10, 2016) – Arcadia University (15-7, 8-5) scored the final nine points of the game in an 81-74 win over Alvernia University (14-9, 10-4) Wednesday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Alumni Gymnasium.
 
The loss for the Crusaders snaps a 7-game winning streak and keeps the 3-time defending conference champions from clinching the top seed for the championships for at least another game.  Alvernia has an off day on Saturday and a magic number of two.
 
Alvernia took a 74-72 lead with 3:05 to play when Marquis Marshall converted a nice feed from Mike Miller, but the Crusaders failed to score the rest of the way.  They went 0-for-5 from the floor over the final three minutes while the Knights hit 2-of-3 shots from the floor and 5-for-7 from the free throw line.
 
The Crusaders—who had shot 75 percent or better from the free throw line in 10 straight games, and were 9-1 in those 10—hit just 17-of-28 from the stripe (60 percent) for the game including 9-for-17 in the first half.
 
Four starters reached double figures for the Crusaders led by 19 from Miller.  Charles Cooper scored 18 points, Marshall finished with 14 points and 10 boards, and Reid Hoff scored 10 points and grabbed seven boards.  Arcadia got a game-high 23 from Josh Scott who went 5-for-12 from the floor and hit all 12 free throws he attempted.
 
Alvernia opened the game with seven straight points, but Arcadia answered with seven in a row.  The hosts built an eight point lead, 25-17 with just better than six minutes left in the half, but Alvernia responded with a late run to tie the score at 40-40 with 18 seconds left on the clock.
 
The Crusaders had a chance to take the lead, but missed three straight free throws and Arcadia earned a 43-40 lead at the break when Scott corralled a loose ball above the arc and knocked down a 3 before the buzzer.
 
Arcadia's lead with five points, 60-55, midway through the second half, and the Knight were up six points, 70-64, before an Alvernia run gave the Crusaders the 74-72 lead with three minutes to play.
 
Alvernia has Saturday off and returns to action next Tuesday when it hosts Albright College in a game with huge playoff implications for both teams.
 
Arcadia 81, Alvernia 74