Miami, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2019) - Wesleyan University (6-2) overcame an eight point halftime deficit and went on to pick up a 76-67 win over Alvernia University (5-5) on Tuesday night in Alvernia's first game of the HoopsMIA Holiday Shootout at Barry University in Miami, Florida.

After trailing 13-5 early on, Alvernia went on an 11-0 run, capped off by a Steve Pierce layup, to go up 16-13 with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. 

Wesleyan would tie it up twice the rest of the way in the first half, but the Golden Wolves went on a 9-2 run over the final two minutes of the half, which Justin Thomas capped off with a 3-pointer, to close out the half up 36-28.

The Cardinals came out of the half fast, cutting Alvernia's lead down to two before Alvernia would score for the first time in the half on a Nick Youngkin layup with 17:45 remaining.

Thomas put Alvernia up by five, 55-50, with 11:27 left in the game, but the Cardinals would score six straight to take the lead at 56-55 with 9:57 remaining. 

The Cardinals would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way. 

Foul trouble for the Golden Wolves allowed the Cardinals the opportunity to convert 13 free throws over the final seven minutes to help keep the Golden Wolves out of reach.

Alvernia had several 3-pointer looks going down the stretch to get back within a one-score game, but they could not convert as the Cardinals took the 76-67 win.

Justin Thomas led Alvernia with 26 points and 12 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Steve Pierce had a career-high 16 points and Keon Taylor also reached double digits with 13 points.

Wesleyan's Antone Walker scored a team-high 23 points, including 14 points off of 20 free throw opportunities. 

Alvernia continues its time down in Miami tomorrow with its final game of HoopsMIA against Case Western Reserve University at 2:00 PM.