Strickland scored 17 points in the first half and hit 5-of-6 free throws in the closing minute to establish a new career mark. Senior guard Cornell Merricks (Philadelphia, PA/Norristown) also reached double-figures with 15 points including a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer. Sophomore guard Mike Brock (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) scored 11 for the Crusaders (14-3, 9-0 PAC) and Zach Straining (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) added 10. Gwynedd-Mercy junior Badou Gaye (Norristown, PA/Kennedy-Kenrick) scored 26 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds, and freshman Chris DelBrocco (Philadelphia, PA/St. John Neumann) scored 15 for the Griffins (14-2, 6-2 PAC).
Gwynedd-Mercy opened the game with six straight points forcing an early Alvernia timeout. Strickland put Alvernia on the board with a 3-point play and a pair of Merricks’ free throws pulled Alvernia to within one at 8-7, but DelBrocco nailed a 3 that sparked nine straight for the guests capped by a dunk from Gaye that put GMC up 17-7. The Griffins maintained their 10-point edge at 25-15 before an 11-3 spurt pulled the Crusaders back to within two, 28-26, with 4:40 to play in the first. Strickland led the Crusaders with seven points during the run including his only 3 of the evening. Courtney Griffin (Seaford, DE/Seaford) stopped the run with a bucket for the guests, but Merricks dropped a 3 to pull within one and hit another at the first-half horn to tie the score at 34-all.
The lead changed hands four times early in the second half before Alvernia established control with a 14-1 run that turned a 43-40 deficit into a 54-44 lead. Strickland again led the Crusaders over the 4:39 run with five points. Strickland scored five more points over the next minute of action and the Crusaders held an 11-point lead, 59-48, with 11:29 to play. Gwynedd-Mercy pulled within five on a pair of free throws and DelBrocco’s second of three 3s, and was within five twice more on a pair of Jolon Davis (Bristol, PA/Harry Truman) layups. Alvernia doubled the 5-point lead with a Strickland bucket and a long 3 from Brock at 3:51. Brock hit a pair of free throws at 1:26 to give the hosts a 12-point lead and Strickland hit two with 37 seconds to go for an 81-71 lead. Straining fouled Corey Cann (Abington, PA/Abington) in the corner on the next possession and Cann missed the third free throw, but Gaye tipped in the miss to pull within six. Two more Strickland free throws followed, tying his career-high, and Tom Keenan (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) hit a 3 leaving the Griffins down five. Strickland hit one-of-two free throws on the next possession and Straining turned a steal into a fast-break dunk to close the scoring.
Alvernia 86, Gwynedd-Mercy 78 GWYNEDD-MERCY COLLEGE (14-2, 6-2 PAC) Badou Gaye 11-15 4-9 26; Chris DelBrocco 6-11 0-0 15; Rashid Santiago 4-10 0-0 9; Jolon Davis 4-5 1-2 9; Jeff Thomas 2-6 2-6 6; Tom Keenan 2-4 0-0 6; Courtney Griffin 2-3 0-0 4; Corey Cann 0-4 3-5 3. Totals 31-58 10-22 78. ALVERNIA COLLEGE (14-3, 9-0 PAC) Ray Strickland 11-19 13-16 36; Cornell Merricks 4-10 4-4 15; Mike Brock 3-34-6 11; Zach Straining 3-7 4-6 10; Lamar Brickus 3-8 0-2 7; Alex West 2-2 0-1 5; Steve Royles 0-2 2-2 2; Akeem Washington 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 27-37 86. Gwynedd-Mercy College......... 34 44 - 78 Alvernia College.............. 34 52 - 86 3-point goals-Gwynedd-Mercy College 6-16 (Chris DelBrocco 3-8; Tom Keenan 2-3; Rashid Santiago 1-2; Corey Cann 0-3), Alvernia College 7-18 (Cornell Merricks 3-6; Alex West 1-1; Lamar Brickus 1-2; Ray Strickland 1-8; Mike Brock 1-1). Fouled out--Gwynedd-Mercy College-Jolon Davis; Tom Keenan, Alvernia College-None. Rebounds-Gwynedd-Mercy College 34 (Badou Gaye 11), Alvernia College 34 (Ray Strickland 9). Assists-Gwynedd-Mercy College 17 (Rashid Santiago 6), Alvernia College 13 (Lamar Brickus 4). Total fouls-Gwynedd-Mercy College 25, Alvernia College 15. A-575 Gwynedd-Mercy came in ranked 22nd in nation by d3hoops.com