Reading, Pa. (Jan. 14, 2017) - Stevenson University (3-13, 1-6) held Alvernia University (9-7, 3-4) to 29 percent shooting in the second half and overcame an 8-point halftime deficit in a 79-71 win Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth Men's Basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

Alvernia built a 45-37 lead at the half shooting 68 percent over the opening 20 minutes.  George Williams and Marquis Marshall were both 6-for-8 from the floor and led the way with 18 and 15 points respectively.

The Crusaders found it much tougher in the second half hitting just 10-of-34 shots and scoring just 26 points while the Mustangs knocked down 14-of-35 shots from the field and 13-of-16 from the free throw line.

Stevenson had a 29-24 lead with eight minutes to go in the first half before the Crusaders asserted themselves with a 20-3 run over a 6-minute span.  Marshall had six points during the run and Williams had seven, capping it with a free throw that put the Crusaders up 44-32 with just over two minutes left in the half.

Stevenson was able to chip a bit off the gap closing the half with a 5-1 run for a 45-37 score at the half.

Williams opened the second half with a 3 for the Crusaders pushing the gap back to 11 points, but Stevenson responded with an 11-2 run to close within two.  During the run, the Crusaders managed just 1-for-8 from the floor.

A 3 from Shippen stemmed the tide, but Stevenson eventually tied the score at 63-all when Walt English hit a pair of free throws with 6:38 to play.

The Mustangs slowly built the lead to seven points, 70-63 with 3:38 to play, and another Shippen 3 brought the Crusaders to within four, but Alvernia just five more points--all of them in the final 16 seconds--for the 79-71 final.

Alvernia looks to break a two-game skid at cross-town rival Albright College on Wednesday.

Stevenson 79, Alvernia 71