Owings Mills, Md. (Dec. 3, 2022) - Alvernia University (5-2, 1-1) used a 48 point second half to propel itself to an 82-65 win over Stevenson University (5-3, 0-2) on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Stevenson.

Alvernia led by just two points at the half, 34-32, before putting up 48 in the second frame to Stevenson's 33 points. The 82-65 win marked Alvernia's first MAC Commonwealth win of the early MAC Commonwealth season. 

Nigel Cooke marked the first points of the game, scoring a jumper off the jump ball to give Alvernia the early 2-0 lead. The Mustangs matched Alvernia's layup with one of their own to even the game at 2-2 early. 

The Golden Wolves and Mustangs traded the next few possessions until a 3-pointer by Robert Mullan off the assist of Jakob Kelly gave Alvernia a 7-5 lead with 17:19 to go in the first half. Alvernia extended its lead to four points on their next possession off a layup by Keba Mitchell. 

The scoring slowed for both teams the next four minutes, with Alvernia going scoreless for nearly four minutes. The Mustangs could not get much of anything going either, taking a slight 10-9 lead during Alvernia's scoring drought. 

A fastbreak layup by Cooke ended the scoring drought for Alvernia, and the two teams matched points for the next few possessions. With the game tied at 17-17 with just under nine minutes to play in the opening half, a 3-pointer by Kelly gave Alvernia a three point advantage with 8:29 on the clock. But, the Mustangs again answered and retook the lead, 21-20, with 7:30 to play in the first half.

The Mustangs pushed their lead to five, 25-20, with 5:36 to play in the first. But, Alvernia scored on back-to-back layups by Malik Green and Cooke to get back within one, 25-24. 

The Mustangs pushed their lead back up to six, 30-24, with 3:23 to play in the half. But the Mustangs were held to just two points the rest of the half while Alvernia went on an 8-2 run to take the 34-32 lead into the break. The Golden Wolves' run included six points by Green and a putback layup by Kyle Gordon.

Alvernia opened the second half with a quick three by Cooke. Cooke then forced a turnover and Green scored a layup off the fastbreak to push Alvernia's lead to seven, 39-32, in just 40 seconds of second half action.

About two minutes later, Alvernia pushed its lead to double digits, 45-35, for the first time off a putback jumper by Kelly.

Alvernia's lead hovered around 10 points for the next five minutes until a Green converted a 4-point play to push Alvernia's lead to 14, 56-42, with 12:15 to play. Another layup by Green followed by a Jalil Schenck three gave Alvernia a 19 point lead, 61-42, with 10:40 to play in regulation.

Alvernia pushed its lead to 20 at the midway point of the half as Cooke converted a layup and an and-one free throw to make it a 64-44 game with ten minutes to play.

Alvernia held a 20 point or more lead for the next five minutes before subs came in to close out the game. The Golden Wolves never let the Mustangs get closer than 16 points the rest of the way as Alvernia coasted to the 82-65 win.

Green and Cooke both finished with 20 points each, while Green led Alvernia's rebounding efforts with eight boards. Cooke finished 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and 8-for-12 overall. Green was 2-for-3 from three and was 7-for-11 overall. 

Alvernia has off this week for finals and is not back in action until Wednesday, December 14 at York College.