Senior forward Ray Strickland (Chester, PA/Chester) scored 15 points for the Crusaders (16-4, 11-1 PAC) and sophomore Zach Straining (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) added 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Neumann (9-11, 7-4) was led by Soloman Harris (Philadelphia, PA/Olney) who scored 23 points and added 11 boards. Chester grads Randy Maultsby (Chester, PA/Chester) and Dehran Patrick (Chester, PA/Chester) also reached double-figures with 14 points apiece. Maultsby reached 1,000 career points with his 14th point, a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in the game.
Alvernia sprinted out to an 11-0 lead by five from Brock. Neumann trimmed the gap to six at 15-9 following a Patrick tip-in with 6:50 gone by. Maultsby’s first 3 of the game followed a 3 from Alex Thompson (Philadelphia, PA/Olney) cutting a 9-point gap down to three, 18-15, with 7:52 left in the first. Alvernia’s Alex West (LaMott, PA/Cheltenham) answered on the next possession with a triple, and the Crusaders pushed the lead back to eight on an Akeem Washington (Lancaster, PA/McCaskey) jumper. The lead grew to as many as 15 for Alvernia thanks to a 12-2 run late in the first half, fueled by 3s from Brock and senior reserve Ryan Trupe (Terre Hill, PA/Garden Spot). Maultsby’s second 3 of the game from the left corner with one second left sent the guests to the break down 12, 38-26.
Maultsby’s third 3 of the game at 18:44 of the second pulled Neumann within nine, 40-31, but Alvernia pushed the lead back to 13 points following a tip-in from Straining at 14:23. Neumann then ripped off 12 straight points led by a pair of 3s from Patrick and capped by a Harris layup. Needing a bucket to stem the tied, the Crusaders worked the ball around the perimeter on their next possession and Cornell Merricks (Philadelphia, PA/Norristown) picked a big spot for his only 3 of the game from the right corner that stopped the Knights’ run and put Alvernia back up four with 11:25 to go. The lead grew back to seven before six straight Neumann points cut it down to one, 55-54, at 7:34. Straining hit 1-of-2 free throws a minute later and Neumann missed a chance to tie with sophomore Andre Wright (Philadelphia, PA/Benjamin Franklin) was whistled for traveling underneath.
Strickland hit a pair of free throws on the next Alvernia possession and a Steve Royles (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) baseline jumper put the Crusaders up six, 62-56, with 5:24 to go. Harris hit a pair for the line to get within four, but Alvernia scored seven of the next 10 to double their lead to eight points with 2:48 left. Brock and Strickland then combined to hit 6-of-6 free throws over the final two minutes to hold off the Knights down the stretch.
Alvernia 75, Neumann 68 NEUMANN COLLEGE (9-11, 7-4 PAC) Solomon Harris 8-16 7-8 23; Derahn Patrick 5-16 2-2 14; Randy Maultsby 5-15 0-1 14; Andre Wright 3-4 3-5 9; Brian A. Smith 1-3 2-2 4; Alex Thompson 1-2 0-0 3; Keith Mushinski 0-2 1-2 1; Chris Ralston 0-1 0-0 0; Brian Smith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-60 15-20 68. ALVERNIA COLLEGE (16-4, 11-1 PAC) Mike Brock 5-12 2-2 16; Ray Strickland 3-12 8-8 15; Zach Straining 5-7 2-4 12; Cornell Merricks 3-10 1-2 8; Ryan Trupe 1-2 4-6 7; Steve Royles 3-4 1-2 7; Akeem Washington 3-5 0-0 6; Alex West 1-1 1-2 4. Totals 24-53 19-26 75. Neumann College............... 26 42 - 68 Alvernia College.............. 38 37 - 75 3-point goals-Neumann College 7-28 (Randy Maultsby 4-12; Derahn Patrick 2-9; Alex Thompson 1-2; Keith Mushinski 0-2; Brian Smith 0-1; Brian A. Smith 0-1; Solomon Harris 0-1), Alvernia College 8-19 (Mike Brock 4-8; Ray Strickland 1-4; Alex West 1-1; Ryan Trupe 1-2; Cornell Merricks 1-4). Fouled out--Neumann College-Solomon Harris, Alvernia College-None. Rebounds-Neumann College 40 (Solomon Harris 11), Alvernia College 35 (Zach Straining 10). Assists-Neumann College 12 (Randy Maultsby 4), Alvernia College 15 (Mike Brock 5; Zach Straining 5). Total fouls-Neumann College 23, Alvernia College 16. A-675