A Gareth McKeown free-kick deep into stoppage time deservedly earned the Belfast men a point, after Ryan Semple had given his side a 66th minute lead, however that was only half the story.
With all the remaining five games in the JJB Sports Premiership postponed due to the terrible weather conditions throughout the country, this game certainly made up for it.
Referee Stephen Weatherall brandished his yellow and red cards quicker that Dirty Harry pulled out his gun.
The Belfast official failed to take into consideration the wet conditions and cautioned no less than five players and also dismissed Institute duo Paddy McLaughlin and Ryan Semple.
In a disappointing first half, where chances were few and far between, saw the Crues dominate for long periods however the one and only opportunity in the opening 45 minutes came just before the half-hour mark.
Midfielder Eamon McAllister broke through a few challenges, but with only Michael Doherty to beat in the 'Stute goal, his attempted lob was superbly tipped over the bar.
Early in the second half Mark Dickson missed an even better chance this time the ex-Linfield striker got away from Ruairi Boyle, but his shot from virtually point-blank range was somehow kept out by the alert Doherty.
The home side were reduced to ten men when debutant McLaughlin received his second yellow card, after recklessly taking out Stephen Coulter.
Dickson should have given his side the lead soon after but this time the striker saw his drive from the right hand edge of the area, come back off Doherty's post.
Unexpectedly the home side took the lead in the 66th minute and much of the credit has to go to work-horse Paul Brown.
The big striker, who played the major of the second half up front on his own, latched onto Semple's cross field pass before causing problems in the visitors box, which allowed Semple to ghost in and turn the ball home from close range.
But his joy lasted only ten minutes when he also felt the wrath of referee Weatherall, also collecting a second booking and joining McLaughlin in the dressing room early.
Two minutes into stoppage time a needless free-kick was given away by Boyle and McKeown's resultant low drive took a deflection off Ruairi McClean before finding it's way past Doherty.
Institute: Doherty, Roddy, Boyle, McLaughlin, Seydak; Semple, McClean, O'Loughlin, Kee; Brown, Mooney. Subs: Lowry for Mooney (57); Campbell for O'Loughlin (80); Deane, Blackburn & Livingstone (not used).
Crusaders: Kerr, McKeown, Coates, Magowan, McBride; McAllister, Doherty, Emerson, Donnelly; Coulter; Dickson. Subs: Dempster for Emerson (67); Spence for McAllister (69); Hyndes, Caddell & Roy (not used).
Referee: Mr Stephen Weatherall (Belfast).
Cautioned: Emerson (25), Semple (27), McLaughlin (36), E Doherty (45), Kee (78), M Doherty (82).
Sent-off: McLaughlin (54); Semple (76)