Alvernia senior Zach Straining (Paxtang, PA/Central Dauphin East) tallied 11 points, three boards, and four assists and earned MVP honors for two days of consistent effort.
Montclair St. (1-1) nearly overcame an eight point deficit in the final minute of play to stun the Crusaders (2-0), but Brickus knocked down two free throws with 4.3 seconds left and stole a pass at midcourt as the Crusaders won their own tip-off tournament for the fourth time in eight years and third in the last four.
Senior forward Chris Talley (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) dropped in a layup with 54 seconds left to put Alvernia up eight, 63-55. MSU senior Gian Paul Gonzalez (N. Haledon, NJ/Manchester Reg.), who represented Montclair St. along with freshman Jonathan Arthur (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) on the All-Tournament Team, scored five straight points in 24 seconds to pull the Red Hawks within three with half a minute to play. Alvernia senior Ryan Finger (Lancaster, PA/Lampeter Strasburg) made one of two free throws to push the gap to four, but Montclair junior James Kosior (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Reg.) nailed a 3 from the right corner to cut the lead to a point, 64-63, with 14 seconds left. The Red Hawks played for a steal on the Crusaders’ last possession before fouling Brickus in the Crusaders’ frontcourt.
Neither team held a lead over four points for the opening 10 minutes before the Red Hawks nailed three 3s in a four minute stretch to build an eight point edge at 34-26 with 5:21 left in the first half. Brock hit one of his four 3s a minute later and the Crusaders scored the final six points of the half to pull within two, 34-32, at the break.
Brock opened the second with another 3 and the Crusaders had their first lead at 35-34 since a 17-15 edge midway through the first. Three ties ensued before Alvernia took its largest lead of the game with an 11-2 run that put the hosts up 50-41 with 7:34 to play. Montclair cut the lead to three on two occasions with just over three minutes to go, but Talley and junior Garrett Etzel (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin), the heroes of Friday night’s win, combined for seven of the next nine points and Alvernia had the eight point edge with 54 seconds to play.
Tournament MVP: Zach Straining (Alv)
All-Tournament Team: Lamar Brickus (Alv), Gian Paul Gonzalez (MSU), Jonathan Arthur (MSU), Seward Joway (PSU-Berks), Charlie Holiday (Newport News)
Newspaper Box Score Montclair St vs Alvernia College 11/19/05 3:00 p.m. at Reading, PA - Physical Education Center At Reading, PA - Physical Education Center ALVERNIA COLLEGE 66, MONTCLAIR ST 63 MONTCLAIR ST (1-1) Gian Paul Gonzalez 7-10 4-5 19; Jonathan Arthur 5-8 2-2 12; Nick Aldiero 3-7 0-0 9; Cliff Schafer 1-3 6-7 8; James Kosior 2-4 2-2 7; Jamal Ford 1-5 0-0 3; Garan Dickson 1-2 0-0 3; Elliot Solop 1-2 0-0 2; Eric Sylvester 0-1 0-0 0; Omar Mieses 0-1 0-0 0; Arthur Elam 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-45 14-16 63. ALVERNIA COLLEGE (2-0) Mike Brock 6-9 0-0 16; Zach Straining 3-8 5-8 11; Lamar Brickus 3-6 4-5 10; Garrett Etzel 3-6 3-4 10; Damon Bogan 4-9 0-0 9; Chris Talley 3-5 0-0 6; Tyrone Bradley 1-2 1-2 3; Ryan Finger 0-1 1-2 1; Sam Green 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 14-21 66. Montclair St.................. 34 29 - 63 Alvernia College.............. 32 34 - 66 3-point goals-Montclair St 7-17 (Nick Aldiero 3-7; Jamal Ford 1-4; James Kosior 1-3; Gian Paul Gonzalez 1-1; Garan Dickson 1-1; Elliot Solop 0-1), Alvernia College 6-17 (Mike Brock 4-7; Damon Bogan 1-3; Garrett Etzel 1-4; Chris Talley 0-1; Sam Green 0-1; Lamar Brickus 0-1). Fouled out--Montclair St-Gian Paul Gonzalez; Cliff Schafer, Alvernia College-None. Rebounds-Montclair St 30 (Jonathan Arthur 12), Alvernia College 24 (Damon Bogan 7). Assists-Montclair St 9 (Jonathan Arthur 5), Alvernia College 13 (Zach Straining 4; Garrett Etzel 4). Total fouls-Montclair St 22, Alvernia College 16. A-357 Championship game of the 2005 Tom Masano Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Alvernia All Tournament Team: Seward Joway (PSU-Berks), Charles Holiday (NNA), Gian Paul Gonzalez (MSU), Jonathan Arthur (MSU), Lamar Brickus (Alv) Tournament MVP: Zach Straining (Alv)