Grantham, Pa. (Feb. 26, 2021) - Alvernia University (2-0, 2-0) improved to a 2-0 start after defeating Messiah University (1-5, 1-5) 78-57 to complete the home-and-home sweep over the Falcons on Friday night in Men's Basketball action at Messiah.

Just like the previous night, Alvernia wasted no time getting started. The Golden Wolves jumped out to an early 10-0 lead over the first four minutes and led 13-2 with 16:13 left in the first half.

A 3-pointer by Alvernia's Keon Taylor extended Alvernia's lead to 33-16 with 8:57 left in the half.

A 10-3 run over the next four minutes cut Alvernia's lead down to 10, 36-26, with 4:55 remaining in the half, but a 3-pointer from Robert Mullan with 4:40 remaining but Alvernia back up by 13.

Alvernia's defense would go scoreless until the final seconds of the half as Messiah continued to chip away, but a buzzer beating 3-pointer from Taylor gave Alvernia the 42-34 lead going into the break.

Back-to-back jumpers by Mickeel Allen got Alvernia started in the second half, and a layup by Malik Green put the Golden Wolves back up by 14, 48-34, with 16:44 remaining.

Messiah struggled to score in the opening five minutes of the second half as Alvernia extended its lead to 20, 54-34, with 15 minutes remaining. The Falcons finally put up their first points of the second half on a layup by Cam Carter with 14:18 left.

Messiah got within 16, 54-38, following a free throw by Will Young IV with 12:52 left, but the Falcons wouldn't get any closer. 

A 3-pointer by Rece Harman with 3:38 gave Alvernia a 29 point lead, its biggest of the game, with 3:38 remaining. 

Alvernia would score just two more points, free throws by Rob Young Jr., the rest of the way to take the 78-57 win.

Mickeel Allen finished the night with a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double. Keon Taylor led the scoring efforts with 19 points, and Mullan, Green, and Jacob Stoudt all finished in the double digits. Jack Ramsey led the Falcons with 13 points.

Alvernia returns to action next week with a road game at Lebanon Valley on Thursday night.