Reading, Pa. (Jan. 17, 2018) - Senior DeJuan Smith scored six of his team-high 20 points in the second overtime to lead Albright College (12-4, 5-3) to an 89-80 win over Alvernia University (8-9, 3-5) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

The Lions scored the last five points of regulation to force overtime. Alvernia senior Mike Miller scored on floater with six seconds left in the first overtime to force a second, and the second extra session was all Albright from the start.  

Albright snapped a three-game losing streak and Alvernia saw a run of five straight wins come to a halt.

"They finished better than us," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller after the game.  "That was the difference in the game."

Albright shot 43 percent from the floor for the game--56 percent in overtime--and when they did miss they picked up 15 offensive rebounds and scored 21 second chance points.  The Lions finished with a 58-39 advantage on the glass.  Smith had a game-high 13 boards to go with 20 points.

"Smith wins that game for them offensively, rebounding-wise, decision-making, everything," said Miller.

Fred Rowles finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds before being thrown out following his second technical foul early in the first overtime period.  Rappoport added 16 points and Brandon Lindsay had 14 on the strength of 4-for-8 shooting from the 3-point line.

Calil Moultrie had a game-high 23 points for the Golden Wolves, Miller finished with 22, and Nick Youngkin added 11.

Albright had the first significant lead of the night taking a 23-13 lead with 12 minutes gone in the first half.  The lead was still 10 two minutes later before Alvernia put together a 10-2 run to close the gap to two.  Mountrie and Youngkin both knocked down 3s during the run.

The lead was down to one point, 32-31 with 2:48 left in the half after Moultrie hit another 3, and a floater in the lane from Moultrie at the buzzer left Albright with a 37-35 lead at the halftime break.

Alvernia tied the game four minutes into the second half and took a 44-42 lead on a jumper from freshman center Kyle Gordon.

Albright answered with a 3 from Garrett Oplinger and the lead changed hands five times in a three minute span.

Alvernia was able to put together a quick 7-1 run that built the lead up to eight points, 60-52 with 8:12 to play, but eight straight for the Lions tied the game at 60-all with four minutes to play.  Alvernia stopped that run with four straight free throws from Miller and Moultrie and had the lead at five points, 66-61 with 2:14 left in regulation before Albright's final run.

Alvernia continues the conference schedule hosting Lebanon Valley on Saturday.

Albright 89, Alvernia 80 (2OT)