Bradford, Pa. (Mar. 3, 2010) - Sophomore guard Tad Gillis (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) knifed through and shot over the Pitt-Bradford defense scoring a game-high 22 points to lead fifth-seeded Alvernia University (16-10) to a 73-63 win over the fourth-seeded Panthers Wednesday evening in quarterfinal action of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Men's Basketball Championships at Bradford.
Gillis hit two 3s, all six free throw attempts, handed out six assists, and added five steals impressing more regional coaches a day after being named First Team All-Commonwealth.
"Their coach said he looked like an All-American," relayed Alvernia head coach Mike Miller from the bus after the game. "He had an unbelievable game."
Gillis scored the second bucket in three straight for the Crusaders that gave them an early 9-4 lead and they never trailed from there.
Bradford tied the score at 14-all, but Seth Cornell (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) and Gillis both connected from the 3-point arc during a 13-2 run that put Alvernia up 11 points, 27-16.
Bradford cut that lead to five points twice the rest of the half including just before the horn on a 3-point play from Dan Heisey. Alvernia took a 35-29 lead into the locker room.
The Crusaders established the 10-point lead seven minutes into the second half, but Bradford scored nine straight to cut the lead to one point, 46-45 with 10:43 to play.
Every time the Panthers closed the gap the Crusaders had an answer.
Stefan Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./G.A.M.P.) stopped the 9-0 run with a 3 and Gillis cut through the defense for a layup to push the lead back to six.
"This team doesn't give up," Miller said, "and that's what these games usually come down to--who wants it more."
The Crusaders continued to answer the Bradford runs in the last three minutes of the game with Gillis and Cornell hitting free throws to build the lead back to seven points with 1:40 to play then from four points to 10 in the final minute.
Cornell finished with 15 points and EJ Logan (Frederick, Md./Frederick) added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench. Bradford got a team-high 20 points from Sam Moore and 17 from Zach Moore.
"This is good for the program to get a win like that," Miller said.
He and the Crusaders get a chance for another one Saturday at top-seeded Catholic University.
The Alvernia / Catholic game tips off at 4:00 Saturday afternoon with the other semifinal, #3 Penn State-Behrend vs. #2 Bethany to follow. The Championship game will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Catholic.