Reading, Pa. (Feb. 5, 2022) - Trailing Albright College (9-11, 5-7) by six with five minutes to play, Alvernia University (14-5, 8-4) was able to complete the comeback and take a 76-71 win over the Lions on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Albright. 

The Golden Wolves trailed the Lions 67-61 with 5:20 to play. Alvernia then closed out the final five minutes on a dominant 15-4 run to better the Lions with the 76-71 win. All five of Alvernia's starters recorded double-digit points for the Golden Wolves. 

The Lions opened the scoring with a Sean Miller layup. 20 seconds later on Alvernia's opening possession, Mickeel Allen knocked down a layup under contact and converted his ensuing and-one opportunity to put Alvernia up 3-2 early. A 3-pointer on Alvernia's next possession put the Golden Wolves up four, 6-2, after less than a minute of action.

Albright's Deion Booker responded with a three of his own to make it a one point game, but another layup from Allen put Alvernia back up by three at the 18:11 mark of the opening frame. 

A Jakob Kelly jumper pushed Alvernia's early lead to five, 10-5, at the 17:21 mark, but Albright was able to tie it up at 10-10 two minutes later on a Troy Smoot free throw. 

The Lions held on to a two possession lead for the next 10 minutes before a layup from Dylan McGinley pushed it to a three possession game for the first time, 27-18, with 7:10 to play in the first half.

With the Lions still leading by nine, 31-22, with just under five minutes to play in the half, a 3-pointer by Keon Taylor at the 4:15 mark  brought Alvernia back within six, 31-25. After a layup from Smoot, Taylor knocked down another three to keep chipping away, 33-28. Then, a massive dunk by Avery Walker with 3:02 to play in the first half brought Alvernia within three, 33-30.

A jumper by Mickeel Allen at the 2:14 mark brought Alvernia within one, 33-32, and a Luke Edwards 3-pointer on Alvernia's next possession  put Alvernia in front, 35-33, with 1:48 to play in the half.

An Allen layup extended Alvernia's lead to four, 37-33, with 56 seconds to play in the half. But, Alvernia was held scoreless the rest of the half while Albright scored five to retake a one point lead 38-37, going into the second half.

A Dylan McGinley layup marked the first points of the second half and gave Albright a three point advantage, 40-37, early in the second frame.

After a McGinley free throw put the Lions up by four, 41-37, a Jakob Kelly three with 18:25 on the clock put Alvernia with one, 41-40, and another Kelly three on Algeria's next possession put Alvernia in front, 43-41.

Alvernia extended its lead to six, 47-41, with 16:48 to go, following two made free throws by Mailk Green and a layup from Taylor.

Alvernia continued with its six point lead, 49-43, just over a minute later, but the Lions knocked down two quick threes to tie it up at 49-49 with 14 minutes to play.

Seven minutes later, the Golden Wolves and Lions were still locked up, now at 61-61. Two made McGinley free throws and a layup from Robert Mangum put Albright ahead 65-61 with 5:44 to play.

A turnover by the Golden Wolves that led to a field goal from the Lions made it a 67-61 Albright advantage with 5:20 to play.

A series of seven made free throws by Alvernia over the next two minutes tied the game up at 68-68, with the game-tying free throw coming off the hands of Kelly. 

Albright's Sidney Brown did not let the game stay tied for long, knocking down a three 18 seconds later to put Albright ahead 71-68 with three minutes to play.

Alvernia's defense locked down and its offense stepped up in the final three minutes. The Golden Wolves did not allow an Albright point the rest of the way.

The Golden Wolves got within one, 71-70, off a Rece Harman layup, and an Avery Walker jumper at the 1:46 mark put Alvernia ahead, 72-71. Alvernia converted four free throws the rest of the way for the 76-71 win.

All Alvernia starters scored at least ten points, and were led by a 19 point performance from Taylor. Walker finished with a  team-high six boards and added 16 points.

The Golden Wolves return to action on Wednesday on the road at Lebanon Valley.