Reading, Pa. (Jan. 30, 2019) - Freshman Justin Thomas scored a team-high 21 points and Avery Walker hit a big 3 late to lead Alvernia University (10-11, 5-7) to a 57-54 win over Lycoming College (9-12, 3-9) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

Thomas knocked down a 3 with 13 minutes left in the second half to spark an 8-0 run for the Golden Wolves that put them up 10 points, 46-36.  Lycoming answered with nine straight points--all from sophomore D'Yante Doughty.

Thomas answered with his fifth 3 of the game, and three minutes later Walker hit a 3 from the top of the arc to put Alvernia up 55-50 with 4:55 to go.

Both teams struggled to score down the stretch with Doughty's two free throws with 22 seconds left pulling the Warriors back within three, 55-52.  Thomas missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Doughty drove to the bucket with seven seconds left to pull within one.

Keon Taylor made a great grab on an inbounds play and was fouled in the backcourt.  He rattled in both free throws to put Alvernia back up three, and Calvin Chandler was short on a potential tying 3 at the buzzer.

Thomas reached the 20-point plateau for the third straight game--all three games off the bench.  He hit 5-of-11 3-point attempts and is 15-for-25 from the arc over the last three games. Nick Youngkin scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Anthony Dadson finished with seven points and a game-high 11 boards.  Doughty led all scorers with 23 points.

Alvernia was down seven points early, 15-8, but battled back to take a 29-25 lead at halftime.  The Wolves never trailed in the second half, but the Warriors had the deficit down to one point on two occasions late and had one shot at taking the lead.

Alvernia benefited from losses by both Messiah and Albright on Wednesday to take over solo fifth, and now hold its own destiny for the postseason.  Arcadia, Widener, Hood, and Stevenson hold the top four spots in the league with Stevenson and Hood 2.5 games ahead of Alvernia in fourth. The top five teams make the postseason starting on Monday, Feb. 18.

Alvernia continues the conference schedule at Widener on Saturday.

Alvernia 57, Lycoming 54