Box Score
READING, PA – The Alvernia University men’s basketball had a 76-64 win over Rowan University in a nonconference game on Tuesday night.
Both teams have a 3-1 record. The Crusaders were led by guard Seth Cornell (sr. Millersville, PA/Penn Manor) with 24 points and seven assists. Guard Charles Swiggett (sr. Chester, PA/Chester) followed with 22 points and four steals. Center Cory Boone (jr. Howard, PA/Bald Eagle Area) compiled 14 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocked shots. Forward Brian Nerney (jr. Middletown, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) pulled down eight boards.
For the Profs, guard Akeem Johnson (jr. Gouldtown, NJ/Bridgeton) scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds. Guard Rich McNamara (fr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) contributed with 14 points, while forward Steve Secula (jr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) had eight. Guard Sean Hughes (sr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) totaled seven points, eight rebounds and six assists. Guard Kendall White (so. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) chipped in with seven points and guard Jason Rosenburg (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) dished five assists.
Alvernia was ahead, 35-28 at halftime. Rowan pulled within four (38-34) at 17:28 in the second period following a layup by Johnson. The Crusaders had a four point advantage (42-38) after White’s jumper at 14:52. Cornell had a layup (14:32) and Swiggett nailed a three-pointer (14:07) to push the lead to nine (47-38). Profs’ guard Roger Loatman (jr. Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) followed with a three point play (13:47) and a layup (13:11) to cut the deficit to four (47-43).
Rowan trailed 51-46 at 12:13. The Crusaders went on a 10-0 run to pull ahead, 61-46 at 9:19. Cornell scored five points, Swigget recorded four and forward Brian Parker (fr. Chichester, PA/Chichester) hit a free throw. Rowan had seven straight points to make the score, 61-53 at 7:27. McNamara had five of the seven points.
White’s three-pointer with 2:02 remaining pulled the Profs within six (68-62). Cornell sank five straight free throws over the next 50 seconds to increase the advantage to 11 (73-62). Boone made a foul shot at the one minute mark and Rowan center David Follis (fr. Clayton, NJ/Clayton) had a layup (:52). Crusaders’ guard Christopher Davis (fr. Norristown, PA/Norristown Area) converted two free throws with 31 seconds left to end the scoring. Boone and Johnson both tallied 13 points in the second half.
The game was tied four times in the first period with the last one (23-23) coming at 5:13. McNamara made a three-pointer at the five minute mark for a 26-23 lead. Alvernia scored the next seven points to go up by four (30-26) at 2:12. Boone scored five points and Nerney added two. Johnson nailed a jumper with two minutes on the clock to bring Rowan within two (30-28). The Crusader had the last five points to end the half with a 35-28 advantage.
Rowan plays at Neumann University on Saturday, November 27 at noon.
