Reading, Pa. (March 8, 2021) - Malik Green and Keon Taylor combined for 61 points as Alvernia University (4-1) picked up a 95-81 non-conference win over Wilkes University (4-5) on Monday night at Alvernia.

The Golden Wolves and Colonels played a closely contested first half. Neither team led by more than three points in the opening nine and a half minutes until Wilkes' Donovan Breeding made a layup and converted the ensuing and-one opportunity to give Wilkes the 19-14 lead with 10:30 remaining.

Alvernia responded with Green knocking down a 3-pointer and Taylor converted two free throws over the next minute to tie it up at 19-19 with 9:11 remaining.

The two teams would go back and forth for the rest of the half, with the lead changing nine times. Alvernia would hold the 44-43 advantage going into the break. 

Wilkes scored the opening points of the second half to take the 45-44 lead, but, again, Alvernia responded with a Jakob Kelly 3-pointer to go up 47-45 90 seconds into the half.

Alvernia extended its lead to five, 52-47, with 16:40 remaining, but Breeding knocked down a three and made a layup on back-to-back possessions to tie the game up at 52-52 with 15:54 remaining.

After tying the game one more time, 58-58 with 14:38 remaining, Alvernia would take the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Green to put the Golden Wolves up 61-58 with 14:27 remaining.

The Golden Wolves continued to feed the hot hands of Green and Taylor to keep the Colonels at bay and keep their lead in the double digits in the final two minutes. Alvernia capped off the night with a layup by Steve Pierce in its final possession to take the 95-81 win.

Green continued to put up big numbers for the Golden Wolves, scoring 35 on the night along with five rebounds. Taylor picked up the 26 point, 10 rebound double-double and added seven assists. Jakob Kelly and Steve Pierce also hit double digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

Wilkes had three players reach 20+ points, led by Breeding with 23 points. 

Alvernia returns to action on Thursday to open its final regular season series versus Albright on Thursday and at Albright on Friday. Seedings for next week's MAC title game and crossover matchups are based on conference-only winning percentage. The top two seeds on each side of the MAC will play for the championship game, while the remaining seeds (No. 3-7) will be matched for a crossover game with the MAC Freedom. Alvernia currently sits in third at 3-1 (.750) and Albright sits in second at .800 (4-1). A sweep against Albright puts Alvernia in the championship game.