DOYLESTOWN (PA) – James Jones scored 25 points while Chris Mayo added 22 points and 12 rebounds as Delaware Valley College defeated visiting Alvernia University, 85-72, in a Freedom Conference game.

The win was the third straight for rookie head coach Casey Stitzel's squad, the first such streak since the 2002-03 campaign. It also improved their record to 7-10 overall and 3-6 in the conference. The loss dropped the Crusaders to 8-10 overall and 5-5 in the Freedom.

The first half was a foul fest as the teams were called for a combined 28 personal fouls and they went to the foul line 40 times. Both teams struggled from there as Alvernia hit just 14 of 23 free throws while the Aggies were 10-for-17. Delaware Valley led by as many as nine, 21-12, in the stanza, but the Crusaders rallied and the team went into the intermission tied at 33-33.

Mayo hit the opening bucket just 17 seconds into the second half and it ignited a 14-4 run to give the Aggies the lead for good at 47-37. Jones had six points in the spurt while Jason Goldheimer added five.

Alvernia roared back and pulled to within four on three occasions, including 51-47 with 14:26 remaining. Delaware Valley then scored 10 of the next 14, including five by Mayo, to up the advantage back to 10 with 9:15 remaining.

The Aggies were still ahead by 10, 67-57, with 7:38 remaining when the Crusaders scored six straight on jumpers by Tim Walters and Charlie Hughes with a layup by David Washington sandwiched in-between to pull back to within four with 5:41 on the clock.

However, James Jones hit a jumper on the Aggies' next possession and later hit one of two free throws. Mayo then had a tip-in off a Goldheimer miss for a 72-63 lead with 3:40 remaining. Alvernia never got closer than seven points the rest of the way and Delaware Valley hit its free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Jones and Mayo were two of five Aggies that reached double figures in scoring for the second straight game. Goldheimer drilled four treys and finished with 16 points while Jason Seipt and Mike Williams notched 10 points apiece. Seipt also dished out four assists, leaving the senior just seven shy of breaking the school's all-time record of 389 set by Joe Butts from 1985 to 1989. Edward Carter grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.

Hughes came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points for the Crusaders. Walters also came off the bench and provided 12 points and six boards while Nick Rivera finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.