St. Davids, PA (January 24, 2005) – In the first of two meetings this year, the Alvernia College Crusaders handed the Eagles their fourth conference loss of the year, 85-67, on Monday night at the Athletic Center at Eastern University. With a 22-4 run in the middle of the first half, the Crusaders opened up a double-digit lead that they would hold for the remainder of the game. The Crusaders improve to 10-6 and 4-3 in PAC play while the Eagles fall to 5-11 and 3-4 in the PAC. Forward Brent Voorhees (Grandville, MI/Tri-Unity Christian) led all Eastern scorers with 15 points, including seven of eight from the free throw line. Brent also added five rebounds and a steal. Lenny Dimaria (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) hit four of five from the field and was 100% from the stripe to tally 13 on the game and Kenny Neal (Prospect Park/Interboro) dropped his first double-digit number with ten points and three rebounds. Chris McMonagle (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic) led all rebounders for the Birds with six.
For Alvernia, Zach Straining netted a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds for the Crusaders, as they cruz to an 18-point win. Garrett Etzel also got in the action, hitting six of eight from the field to score 17. Mike Brock was also in double-digits depositing 15 including three, first half threes and a perfect 2 for 2 from the line.
Eastern will host Marywood University this Wednesday evening at 7pm for the first contest between the Eagles and the Pacers. Then on Saturday, the Eagles will host Neumann College in a weekend double-header starting at 3pm. The women's game will begin at 1pm and will also showcase the Neumann Lady Knights and Eastern Eagles.