ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Monday, February 9, 1998

BILLET TOSSES IN 33 AS ETOWN BREAKS LOSING SKID WITH 95-87 WIN OVER ALVERNIA

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- Ryan Billet broke out of a three-game scoring drought with 33 points as Elizabethtown downed Alvernia 95-87 in Mid-Atlantic region action on Monday. The win broke a three-game losing streak for the Blue Jays (11-9, 5-5), their longest skid of the season.

After shooting below 33 percent as a team in losses to Widener and Scranton, Etown went 34-for-62 (54.8 percent) from the floor against the Crusaders. Adam Weber tied a season-high with 16 points off the Blue Jay bench while teammate Mark Sweet collected a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards.

All-American Daimen Hunter paced Alvernia (12-8, 7-3) with 29 points while center Lonnie Walker added 25 points and a game high 15 rebounds. Walker, normally a 57.3 percent free throw shooter, also went 11-for-12 from the charity stripe and added four blocked shots.

Etown used a 9-0 run early to take an 11-6 lead, then built their advantage to 42-28 on the strength of Billet's 7-for-8 shooting from the field in the first half. Billet, who entered the night averaging 20.3 points per game this season, had managed only 10.7 points per game in his last three contests.

The Blue Jays led by as many as 14 in the second half but saw their lead cut to 87-84 with 56.7 seconds remaining after Hunter was fouled shooting a three and converted all three subsequent free throw attempts. Etown, however, hit its final eight charity tosses to seal its first win in four games.

The Jays return to Commonwealth League action on Wednesday, February 11 at home against league-leading Lebanon Valley. Game time is 7 p.m.

Alvernia (87)
Walker 7-13 11-12 25, Anderson 2-4 2-2 8, Novia 0-1 0-0 0, Grey 2-4 2-3 6, Gosseaux 3-7 0-0 7, Hunter 10-30 5-6 29, Concepcion 3-11 0-1 6, Carolina 0-1 0-0 0, Less 2-4 2-2 6, Kiprislis 0-0 0-2 0. Total: 29-75 22-28 87.

Etown (95)
Andros 4-7 0-1 9, Karli 2-6 3-7 7, Billet 10-13 12-13 33, Satelle 4-8 0-0 8, Cristofoletti 0-1 0-0 0, Beamer 0-1 3-4 3, Weber 5-9 2-2 16, Sweet 5-10 1-2 11, Keiter 3-6 0-0 6, Kistler 1-1 0-0 2. Total: 34-62 21-29 95.

Three-pointers: Alvernia 7-24 (Anderson 2-4, Novia 0-1, Gosseaux 1-2, Hunter 4-14, Concepcion 0-2, Less 0-1), Etown 6-9 (Andros 1-1, Karli 0-1, Billet 1-3, Weber 4-4). Rebounds: Alvernia 41 (Walker 15), Etown 40 (Sweet 11). Assists: Alvernia 14 (Hunter 6), Etown 22 (Karli 6). Turnovers: Alvernia 8, Etown 12. Steals: Alvernia 5 (Walker 2), Etown 6 (Andros 2, Karli 2, Billet 2). Fouls: Alvernia 23, Etown 18. Technicals: None. Attendance: 200.