Owings Mills, Md. (Dec. 4, 2021) - Stevenson University (7-2, 1-1) overcame a first half deficit and battled back to take a 93-89 triple overtime win over Alvernia University (6-4, 1-1) on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Stevenson. 

The Mustangs overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and battled through 18 ties to come away with the win. Stevenson's Khalil Richard made a pair of game-tying free throws with less than 30 seconds left in regulation. Richard then continued to lead the Mustangs after making the go-ahead layup with 2:27 left in triple overtime. 

After Stevenson held a 5-2 lead early on, back-to-back jumpers by Keon Taylor and Avery Walker put Alvernia in front for the first time, 6-5, with 16:18 to play in the first half.

A few minutes later Jacob Stoudt knocked down a 3-pointer to put Alvernia up 12-7, but the Mustangs answered with a three of their own to get back within two, 12-10, with 13:22 to play in the first half.

Taylor responded with a jumper to put the Golden Wolves up by four, 14-10. After a brief scoreless drought, a jumper by Steve Pierce extended Alvernia's lead to six, 16-10, with just over ten minutes to go in the first half.

Stevenson again worked its way back to within two, 16-14, a minute later, but a 3-pointer by Malik Green with 8:46 to play sparked a 10-0 for the Golden Wolves that saw their lead extend to 26-14 with 4:54 to play in the half.

The Mustangs ended the run with a 3-pointer by KJ Holton, but Alvernia's Jake Kelly knocked one down of his own on Alvernia's next possession. 

A Kelly jumper with 2:22 left in the half would be Alvernia's final points of the first frame. Stevenson scored once more - a 3-pointer - to make it a 31-24 game in favor of Alvernia going into the break.

Stevenson came out of the break fast, going on a 7-0 run to tie it up at 31-31 after just two minutes of action.

After an Alvernia timeout, Kelly came out and hit a jumper to put Alvernia up 33-31 with 17:45 to play in regulation.

Three minutes later, the Mustangs tied it again at 35-35, and then took a three point lead, 38-35, off the hands of Cameron Smith. 

The Golden Wolves retook the lead, 43-40, off a 3-pointer from Taylor, but the Mustangs surged ahead on an 11-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 51-43, with 8:32 to play. After a free throw by Green to end Alvernia's scoreless drought, Stevenson continued to push the pace. The Mustangs extended their lead up to double digits, 55-45, with 6:45 to play. 
Three made free throws by the Golden Wolves and a 3-pointer off the bench by Jacob Stoudt quickly brought Alvernia back within four, 55-51, with 5:29 to play.

Taylor then made two free throws and a driving layup to tie it up at 55-55. Free throws from Pierce and Kelly put the Golden Wolves back in front, 57-55, with just over four minutes in regulation.

The Golden Wolves and Mustangs went back and forth for the next two minutes until a layup from Green put Alvernia up by four, 61-57, with 1:48 left in regulation. 

A foul and turnover by Alvernia gave the Mustangs the chance to tie it up at 61-61 with one minute remaining.

A layup from Kelly put Alvernia back in front, 63-61, but Alvernia again committed a foul and sent the Mustangs to the line. Richard made both free throws to tie it up at 63-63. Taylor had a look at a jumper as the buzzer rang, but it did not fall as the game went into overtime. 

In the first overtime period, the Golden Wolves trailed much of the five minutes, and the Mustangs held a slight 75-73 advantage with 14 seconds remaining. Green took the in bounds and drove the floor, knocking down a jumper to tie it up at 75-75. Alvernia forced a turnover on Stevenson's next possession, and Stoudt sent off a buzzer-beater attempt that bounced off the rim several times but did not fall as the game went into its second overtime.

Two jumpers by Taylor in the opening minute put Alvernia up by four, 79-75, but a free throw and 3-pointer by the Mustangs saw the game tied up at 79-79 just over a minute later. The scoring slowed down on both sides, but Taylor hit a jumper with 1:12 left to put Alvernia in front, 81-79. After a missed layup by the Mustangs on their next possession, Cameron Smith grabbed the offensive board and knocked down a layup to tie it up at 81-81. Both teams missed opportunities to score as the game went into its third overtime.

The Mustangs held a three point advantage, 84-81, in the first minute of the third overtime, but a jumper by Pierce put Alvernia within one 84-83, with 3:46 to play. Just over a minute later, a free throw by Taylor tied it up at 84-84 with 2:39 to play. 

Stevenson jumped back up to a four point lead, 88-84, after a made jumper and two converted free throws with 1:51 remaining. Green got Alvernia back within two, 88-86, with 1:19 to go. But, the Mustangs took advantage of Alvernia fouls. Stevenson made three free throws to extend its lead to five, 91-86.

Taylor knocked down a 3-pointer with 20 seconds to go to get Alvernia back within two, 91-89.

Alvernia sent the Mustangs to the line again, but this time Stevenson could not convert either attempt. Alvernia picked up the rebounds on the second missed shot, but the Golden Wolves turned the ball over. Stevenson went back to the line, and this time made both attempts to go up 93-89. 

Taylor sent off a last second 3-pointer, but it did not fall as the Mustangs took the 93-89 win.
 
Taylor led all scorers with 29 points, he also added three rebounds and four assists. Kelly finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, and Green added 15 points with nine rebounds. 
The Golden Wolves return to action on Wednesday night with an 8:00 PM game at home against crosstown rival Albright.