OWINGS MILLS, Md. – For the second straight year the Stevenson men's basketball team held a double-digit lead in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game, but again the visiting Alvernia Crusaders overcame the deficit to snatch the conference title, winning Saturday's rematch 58-51, in front of a raucous crowd at Owings Mills Gymnasium. 

The championship is the third straight for Alvernia (18-9), who also defeated the Mustangs in Owings Mills a year ago.  The Crusaders receive the Commonwealth Conference's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division III Championships and will find out their seed and opponent on Monday during the bracket announcement show.

Most Valuable Player Lamont Clark led all scorers in the championship game with 22 points while also pulling down eight rebounds.  In Alvernia's three tournament contests, Clark averaged 16.0 points per game, to go along with 8.0 rebounds per game and 7.0 assists per contest.

Junior Sean Farr led Stevenson (18-9) with 13 points on six-of-eight shooting in the title game while senior Justin Kuntz and junior Erik Fisher both added ten points and eight rebounds in the losing effort.

After the winning the opening tip, the Mustangs started hot as junior Christian Roberts opened his account with a jumper from left elbow and then classmate Chris Day sliced through the lane for a lay-in.

The Crusaders got on the board courtesy of Clark, but then Farr sparked the hosts with a monster block that led to a transition three-pointer for Fisher for a 7-2 lead just three minutes in.

Alvernia attempted to slow the Mustangs down with a 2-3 zone, but junior Colby Giacubeno and Farr were able to penetrate and get to the bucket on two straight possessions to give Stevenson a 15-6 lead.  Following a three for the Crusaders by Alex Shippen, Stevenson ran off seven straight to push the lead to 13 at 22-9, and force an Alvernia timeout.

Stevenson continued to roll offensively, but the Crusaders chipped away at the lead, cutting it to 26-14 after a fast-break lay-in by Clark with just over four minutes left.  The Crusaders could not get any closer before the half as the hosts pushed the lead to 33-17 at the break behind a final basket from Fisher.

The Mustangs shot 55.6% in the opening frame, while limiting Alvernia, who scored 96 points in its semifinal contest at Lycoming, to just 29.2% shooting from the floor.

The pace slowed down at the start of the second half and the Crusaders took advantage by holding the Mustangs without a field goal for the opening four minutes.  On the offensive end, Alvernia clawed back into the contest by cutting the lead to just ten, 34-24, on a pair of free throws by Harrison Deyo. 

Farr finally recorded the first basket for Stevenson as Giacubeno controlled a loose ball and then sent a no-look pass to the block where the junior transfer converted from in close.

The visiting Crusaders continued their run, however, and Clark trimmed the lead down to seven, 36-29, on a runner in the lane with 13:25 left.  The lead looked in further danger, but Deyo missed a dunk for the Crusaders and on the run-out Farr slammed home with two hands to put the Mustangs on top by nine, 38-29.

Alvernia finally got within two possessions at 38-32 on another lay-in by Clark, but Farr answered for the Mustangs once again, and then Giacubeno connected on a step-back three-ball to reinstate the double-digit lead for the hosts, 43-32 with 9:01 left.

The Crusaders responded again in the back-and-forth second half, cutting the lead to just four, 44-40, on a three-point play by Deyo.  The senior center brought Alvernia within just two on the next possession by finishing down low off of a feed by Clark.  Following another empty possession by the Mustangs, the Crusaders took their first lead of the game, 45-44, with 4:19 on a three-pointer by Shippen.  A free throw by Deyo capped the 12-0 run for the Crusaders to put them up by two with 3:39 left.

Farr stopped the bleeding for Stevenson with a free throw, but Deyo converted down low at the other end for a three-point Crusader lead.

The Crusaders opened their biggest lead of eight, 53-45, with 40 seconds to play after Mike Miller made two free throws, but Roberts drove the lane at the other end, made the lay-up, and converted at the line to cut the lead back to five.

Giacubeno pulled the Mustangs back within four, 55-51, on a three with 25 seconds left, but the hosts could not make a comeback of their own.

Stevenson will now wait to hear of a potential at-large bid in the NCAA Championships or ECAC Championships during the Selection Show on Monday afternoon.