Box Score Men's Basketball
Lebanon Valley 89, Alvernia 81

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ANNVILLE, Pa. - A big second-half push carried Lebanon Valley past defending Commonwealth Conference champion Alvernia as the Dutchmen came back to win 89-81 on Saturday.

The Dutchmen (4-6, 2-2 CC) reeled off their third straight win behind Kevin Agnew's 33 points and superb second-half performances by Kyler Burke and Zach Mrozek.

LVC shot a season-best 58.7 percent - their fourth straight shooting game over 50 percent - and went 29-for-34 at the line to erase a nine-point second-half deficit thanks to a key 12-2 run that saw Mrozek and Burke combine for all of LVC's points.

Mrozek scored 16 - all off the bench in the second half - while Burke finished with 15 points and four assists. Luke Berguson chipped in 11 points. Agnew scored 15 of his 33 points at the foul line, turning in a perfect day in the second-best foul shooting performance in program history behind only Mike Rhoades '95, who made all 16 in a 1992 game. It was Agnew's third 30+ point game in his last four outings.

Alvernia was led by Brian Parker's 26 points and Chris Davis' 17-point outing, but the Crusaders (7-4, 2-2 CC) were hurt by a dismal 7-for-17 day at the line despite shooting 50 percent overall.

The first half stayed tight until Alvernia hit a 7-0 run sparked by a Davis three-pointer to take control of the game. LVC chipped away and went into the break down 43-39 after Davis hit another trey to end the period.

Alvernia built their lead over the opening seven minutes of the second half, and found their largest advantage of the game at the 13:25 mark when Kahlil Bennett drained a three to go up 55-46. LVC turned it around quickly, however, outscoring Alvernia 23-7 over the next six minutes to turn the nine-point deficit into a 69-62 lead, capped by Mrozek's floater at 5:57. The Crusaders never seriously threatened after that as Mrozek's and-one and Agnew's three put the home side ahead 77-68 with just over three minutes to go, and LVC going 12-for-12 at the line (all by Agnew and Mrozek) in the closing moments.

LVC will visit rival Elizabethtown on Wednesday night.