Lancaster, Pa. (Nov. 12, 2022) - Alvernia University (2-1) used a 52 point second half to take down Cairn University (0-2) 77-57 in the consolation game of the F&M Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday.

Alvernia trailed by as much as eight in the first half before coming back and tying it up at 22-22 with two points left in the first half. The Highlanders led 27-25 at the half before Alvernia put up 52 to Cairn's 30 in the final 20 minutes.

The Golden Wolves and Highlanders traded baskets early until Cairn put up seven straight to take a 14-7 lead with 14 minutes to play in the first half. 

The Golden Wolves chipped away at the lead and tied it up at 22-22 on a Jakob Kelly 3-pointer and a Malik Slay layup with 2:04 remaining in the half.

The Highlanders scored the next five and nearly took a 27-22 lead into the half until Kelly knocked down another jumper to get Alvernia within two, 27-25, going into the break. 

Cairn and Alvernia traded points in the early minutes of the second half until Nigel Cooke tied it up at 32-32 with a 3-pointer. Cairn tied it back up with a 3-pointer of its own before Malik Green gave Alvernia back the lead, 39-37, on a layup with 15:42 left in the half.

Alvernia then went on a 10-2 run that included five points from Green to give Alvernia a little room to work as the Golden Wolves led 48-39 with 13:37 to play.

The Highlanders worked their way back to make it a two possession game and kept it that way for the next seven minutes. A 3-pointer by Jalil Schenck made it a double-digit game and Alvernia did not allow the Highlanders to get any closer the rest of the way.

A free throw by Cooke in the final seconds capped off Alvernia's scoring for the 77-57 final.

Green led Alvernia's offense with 22 points and added eight rebounds. Kelly finished with 20 points, three blocks, and six rebounds. Cooke also reached double-digit scoring with 14 points and added eight rebounds. 

Alvernia is back in action on Saturday hosting Wilkes University.