Reading, Pa. (Nov. 19, 2022) - Alvernia University (3-1) held off a second half push by the Colonels and defeated Wilkes University (2-3) 67-56 on Saturday afternoon in non-conference men's basketball action at Alvernia. 

After the game was locked at 8-8 five minutes into the contest, Alvernia's Nigel Cooke scored on a layup and followed that with a 3-pointer to put Alvernia up 13-8 with 14:22 to play. 

The Colonels stayed within two possessions for the next five minutes until back-to-back threes by Robert Mullan and Jacob Stoudt gave Alvernia a nine point lead, 26-17, with nine minutes to play in the opening half.

Wilkes got back within five, 26-21, before Alverina went on a quick 5-0 run with layups by Mullan and Mickeel Allen to give Alvernia its first double-digit lead of the afternoon, 31-21, with 4:32 to play in the opening half.

The Colonels and Golden Wolves traded points the remainder of the half as Alvernia took a 36-27 lead into the break.

The Colonels scored the opening four points of the half to cut Alvernia's lead down to five, 36-31, but Alvernia got back in a rhythm and quickly pushed the lead back to nine, 40-31, on a layup by Keba Mitchell with 17:13 to play.

The Colonels then went on a 13-1 run to swing momentum and the lead into their favor and take a 44-41 lead over Alvernia with 12:41 to play.

Alvernia responded with a 3-pointer by Jalil Schenck to tie the game up at 44-44, and the Golden Wolves pushed the lead back to four, 48-44, on back-to-back field goals by Malik Green and Allen. 

Wilkes then knocked down a layup to get back within two as the game reached the midpoint of the second half, but Alvernia put some distance between itself and the Colonels on a another three by Schenck to make it a 51-46 game with 9:32 to play.

The Colonels got back within five once more, 53-48, with 7:34 to play, but, Alvernia never let them closer the rest of the way. Following the Wilkes' layup that made it a 53-48 game, 14-3 run to extend its lead up to 16 points, 67-51, with under a minute to play.  The run was capped off by a four-point play by Jakob Kelly with Kelly knocking down a corner three and converting an and-one opportunity after being fouled on the play.

The Colonels scored the final five points of the game, but it did not make a difference as Alvernia came away with the 67-56 win.

Alvernia had three players reach double-digit scoring, and the Golden Wolves were led by Nigel Cooke who finished with 13 points and added five rebounds. Kelly finished with 10 points and eight boards, and Green finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Alvernia is back in action on Tuesday hosting Gwynedd Mercy University at 8 PM.