(box score)

Widener ran into an offensive explosion in the second half and was dealt a 69-53 Commonwealth Conference loss by Alvernia at Schwartz Center.

Alvernia (12-4, 4-2 CC) went into cruise control in the second half, shooting 61 percent (17-of-28) from the floor and hitting three 3-pointers.  Nick Rivera (Reading, PA) had 12 points and six rebounds in the period with Seth Cornell (Millersville, PA) scoring 13 points.

Freshman Derrick Williams (Vineland, NJ) scored 11 points off the bench overall with BJ Smith (Baltimore, MD) scoring nine and fellow sophomore Onyi Ezeala (Piscataway, NJ) grabbing 10 rebounds for the Pride (9-8, 2-4).

Rivera could not be stopped, ending with 24 points and 15 rebounds to help the Crusaders shoot 54 percent (30-of-56) from the field.  Cornell poured in 15 points with Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, PA) adding 11 points.

Widener on Saturday travels to Elizabethtown for a 4:00 pm tip-off.