Reading, Pa. (Jan. 12, 2022) - After over a month off, Alvernia University (8-4, 3-3) shook off a slow start to down Lebanon Valley College (5-9, 2-5) 84-79 in a back-and-forth competition between the Golden Wolves and Dutchmen on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth Men's Basketball action at Alvernia's Jack McCloskey Court.

In a game that saw 11 lead changes and nine ties, a 3-pointer by Keon Taylor put Alvernia ahead for good with 3:29 to play. The Golden Wolves held off the Dutchmen and found success at the foul line to come away with the 84-79 win. 

The Dutchmen opened the scoring with a jumper from Evin Timochenko, but a layup by Mickell Allen just under a minute later evened the game up early at 2-2. After a layup by Collin Jones at the 17:18 mark, Alvernia took its first lead of the game off a Keon Taylor 3-pointer.

The early Alvernia lead did not last long, as Luis Garcia answered with a three of his own on Lebanon Valley's next possession. 

The Golden Wolves then fell into a rhythm of missed shots and turnovers as Lebanon Valley built up its lead to eight, 18-10, with 12:25 left in the first half.

Lebanon Valley continued to hover around an eight point lead for nearly the next three minutes, but a Malik Green 3-pointer breathed some life into Alvernia to make it a 25-20 contest with 9:14 left in the first half.

A layup by Mickeel Allen on Alvernia's next possession brought Alvernia within three with 8:22 left on the clock.

After Lebanon Valley hit a jumper to make it 27-22 with just under eight minutes to play in the half, Avery Walker knocked down a three and Green converted two free-throws to tie it up at 27-27 with 6:08 on the first half clock.

Lebanon Valley then sent Alvernia to the line twice over the next 40 seconds and Alvernia's Walker and Allen combined to convert all four free throw opportunities to build the Alvernia lead up to four, 31-27, with 5:22 remaining in the half.

Following a Green jumper, Robert Mullan knocked down a three to push Alvernia's lead to seven, 36-29, with just under four minutes to play in the first. 

Alvernia's defense kept Lebanon Valley off the board while the offense added to its lead. A Green free throw gave Alvernia its largest lead of the half, 40-31, with 2:11 to go.

The Green free throw would be Alvernia's last point of the first half as Lebanon Valley held the Golden Wolves scoreless in the final two minutes while scoring seven of its own to trail Alvernia by just two points, 41-39, going into the half.

The Dutchmen came out of the break and scored the opening points off a Collin Jones layup to tie it up at 41-41.

The Golden Wolves and Dutchmen went back and forth over the next two minutes as the game would be tied at 55-55 with 10:07 to play.

That trend continued until Lebanon Valley's Luis Garcia knocked down a three to give Lebanon Valley the slight 62-61 advantage with 6:29 to play.

Lebanon Valley was able to hang on to a one possession lead for the next two and a half minutes until Taylor knocked down his go-ahead three with 3:29 to play to put Alvernia up by one, 70-69.

Green added to the lead with a three of his own on Alvernia's next possession following a Jones turnover.

The Golden Wolves kept the game out of reach by going 9-for-10 at the line over the final three minutes as Alvernia took the 84-79 win.

Green led Alvernia with 21 points, four rebounds, and three blocks, and Taylor finished with 20 points and five rebounds. Both Jakob Kelly and Allen finished with seven boards. They each also reached double-digit scoring with Kelly recording 15 and Allen recording 10. Avery Walker's ten points completed the double-digit point sweep for Alvernia's starting five.

The Golden Wolves return to action on Saturday afternoon at Hood College.