Palmer’s three-point goal answered a similar shot by Brandon Schuler that put B-W in front 72-70 with 1:11 on the clock. Tori Davis missed a shot on the Yellow Jackets’ next possession and Crawford grabbed the defensive rebound with 13 seconds remaining.
It was a tight game throughout with the score tied 11 times and 20 lead changes.
Boosted by 56.5 percent shooting from the field in the first half (13-of-23), Albion held a 37-32 lead at halftime. The Britons extended the margin to eight when senior forward Garrett Gibbons scored a three-point basket in the first minute of the second half.
Baldwin-Wallace went on a 13-5 run to knot the score at 45 with 15 minutes remaining. Neither team would hold a lead of more than five points the rest of the way.
Crawford was named the tournament’s most valuable player. He scored 20 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 10-of-14 at the line, grabbed 17 rebounds, and dished out four assists against the Yellow Jackets. His two-game tournament totals included 41 points and 30 rebounds.
Junior guard Zak Silas earned a place on the all-tournament team after exploding for 21 points and three steals against B-W. He connected on 7-of-11 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 from three point range. Silas scored 17 points in the Britons’ opening round win over Juniata (Pa.) College.
Gibbons also scored in double figures with 11 points.
Schuler, who connected on seven shots from three-point range, led B-W with 24 points.
ALBION COLLEGE (3-1) Zak Silas 7-11 4-5 21; Brandon Crawford 5-9 10-14 20; Garrett Gibbons 4-11 0-0 11; Mike Bailey 2-3 1-2 7; Rick Palmer 2-3 0-0 6; Jim Cash 1-2 0-0 3; Drew Yancey 1-4 0-0 2; Evan Way 1-1 0-0 2; Lonny Fulse 0-3 2-2 2; Andrew Ruddick 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 23-48 18-25 75. BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE (4-0) Brendan Schuler 8-11 1-1 24; Tori Davis 9-12 4-5 22; Keith Aufmuth 4-8 0-0 12; Chad Clark 4-8 0-0 8; Dennis Santiago 1-7 0-0 3; Nick Meyer 1-3 0-0 2; Tyler Sekerak 0-6 1-2 1; Dan Gundert 0-3 0-0 0; Charod Hale 0-0 0-0 0; Luke Lyle 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 6-8 72. Albion College................ 37 38 - 75 Baldwin-Wallace College....... 32 40 - 72 3-point goals-Albion College 11-22 (Garrett Gibbons 3-9; Zak Silas 3-4; Mike Bailey 2-3; Rick Palmer 2-3; Jim Cash 1-1; Lonny Fulse 0-1; Drew Yancey 0-1), Baldwin-Wallace College 12-25 (Brendan Schuler 7-9; Keith Aufmuth 4-5; Dennis Santiago 1-4; Nick Meyer 0-1; Tyler Sekerak 0-4; Luke Lyle 0-2). Fouled out--Albion College-None, Baldwin-Wallace College-None. Rebounds-Albion College 37 (Brandon Crawford 17), Baldwin-Wallace College 28 (Tori Davis 8). Assists-Albion College 14 (Brandon Crawford 4; Mike Bailey 4), Baldwin-Wallace College 13 (Tyler Sekerak 4). Total fouls-Albion College 14, Baldwin-Wallace College 17. A-198