Alvernia went on a 14-2 run at the end of the first half to jump out to a 36-29 lead at intermission. Trailing 27-22, Garret Etzel and Lamar Brickus connected on back-to-back three-pointers to give the Crusaders a 28-27 lead. Brandon Thompson followed with a field goal inside and Zach Straining converted a three-point play to push the lead to 33-27. After the Colonels Jeremy Kable hit two free throws to close the deficit to 33-29, Straining nailed a three-pointer to give Alvernia a seven-point halftime lead.
A three-pointer by Etzel and a three-point play by Straining increased the Alvernia lead to 57-45 with 7:29 showing on the clock. However, Wilkes would embark on a 9-1 spurt to pull within 58-54. Mike Constantine hit a jumper for the Colonels prior to a free throw by the Crusader’s Thompson to make it 58-47. A field goal and free throw by Chris Shovlin, two Greg Cardamone charity tosses and a basket inside by Evan Walters allowed the Colonels to pull within four points with 4:16 left.
Brickus would hit a key three-pointer with 52 seconds left to up the Alvernia lead to 64-57. After Shovlin and Chris Talley traded baskets, Matt Gould hit a three-pointer for the Colonels and was also fouled on the play. Gould was successful on the free throw try and the lead was trimmed to 66-63 with 24 seconds remaining.
Etzel would hit one-of-two from the free throw line with 16 ticks left to make it 67-63. Shovlin then hit two free throws for Wilkes with 11 seconds remaining to pull the Colonels within 67-65. However, Talley would hit two free throws with nine seconds left, and one more following a Wilkes missed field goal with two seconds to play to ice the decision.
Straining pumped in game-highs with 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead Alvernia. Thompson contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
Constantine had 15 points to lead three Wilkes players in double-figures. Shovlin chipped in with 14 points, while Cardamone had 12 points and 11 rebounds.