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Alvernia University Athletics

Steve Pierce
Dion Thorpe
47
Messiah Mess 8-10,1-8 MAC Commonwealth
74
Winner Alvernia AU 9-8,5-4 MAC Commonwealth
Messiah Mess
8-10,1-8 MAC Commonwealth
47
Final
74
Alvernia AU
9-8,5-4 MAC Commonwealth
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Messiah Mess 19 28 47
Alvernia AU 39 35 74

Next Game:

at Stevenson University

1/29/2020 | 6:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 29 (Wed) / 6:00 PM
at Stevenson University
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | by Jon King (SID)

Pierce's Offense, Walker's Defense Lead Alvernia Past Messiah, 74-47

Reading, Pa. (Jan. 25, 2020) - Steve Pierce scored his second career-high in as many games with 22 points and added nine boards as Alvernia University (9-8, 5-4) knocked off Messiah College (8-10, 1-8) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

Sophomore Avery Walker pitched in on the defensive end holding Messiah's leading scorer, Colin Sareyka, to just five points in 17 minutes.

"I kinda have the idea that I'm going to be guarding the best player," said Walker after the game.  "I try to go in and not let him score and make plays for the rest of the team. I didn't play him too bad at Messiah but I wanted to do better this time around."

Alvernia won 69-64 at Messiah the first time through the schedule.  Sareyka reached his average of 17 points, but shot 4-of-18 from the floor.

Aw Walker led the defense charge in the first half, Pierce was the spark on the offensive end.

Pierce scored 15 points with seven rebounds, and Mickeel Allen added 10 before the break.  The Wolves' leading scorer, Justin Thomas scored just two points on two free throws in the first half, but got hot at the right time in the second half to match Messiah on a comeback effort.

"Steve gives us another option on offense and defense," said Alvernia head coach Mike Miller.  "He's coming up with steals and loose balls that turn into buckets and now we're even running a play for him."

Alvernia led by 20 points and halftime and kept a comfortable margin through the second half.

Nick Youngkin hit a 3 with 11:25 left in the first half to spark a 20-6 run that spanned 7:45 and gave Alvernia a 20-point first half lead.  Messiah hit just 3-of-16 shots from the floor on the run and missed a pair of free throws.

The lead hit 22 points on an Allen free throw with just under two minutes on the clock and Messiah scored a bucket to cut it to 39-13 at the half.

Neither team played clean basketball for the first 10 minutes of the second half, and Alvernia managed to stretch the lead to 55-28 following a pair of free throws with 8:20 to play.

Messiah went through a cold stretch without a field goal for six plus minutes in the second half, but then scored on four straight possessions--but Thomas answered every one and the Wolves cruised.

Allen finished with 12 and Thomas had 11.  EJ Porter led Messiah with 15.

Alvernia sits in a four-way tie for third place at 5-4 with Hood, Albright, and Arcadia.  Widener is alone in first place at 8-1 and Lycoming sits in second at 6-3.

The Wolves hit the road on Wednesday for a game at Stevenson.

Alvernia 74, Messiah 47
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Players Mentioned

Mike Miller

#44 Mike Miller

G
6' 2"
Junior
Justin Thomas

#14 Justin Thomas

F
6' 3"
Sophomore
Avery Walker

#15 Avery Walker

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Nick Youngkin

#10 Nick Youngkin

F
6' 5"
Senior
Steve Pierce

#3 Steve Pierce

G
5' 11"
First Year
Mickeel Allen

#22 Mickeel Allen

G/F
6' 4"
First Year

Players Mentioned

Mike Miller

#44 Mike Miller

6' 2"
Junior
G
Justin Thomas

#14 Justin Thomas

6' 3"
Sophomore
F
Avery Walker

#15 Avery Walker

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Nick Youngkin

#10 Nick Youngkin

6' 5"
Senior
F
Steve Pierce

#3 Steve Pierce

5' 11"
First Year
G
Mickeel Allen

#22 Mickeel Allen

6' 4"
First Year
G/F