Reading, Pa. (Jan. 28, 2023) - Alvernia University (15-5, 9-2) opened up the second half on a 12-2 run and used that run to propel itself to a 70-56 win over York College (10-10, 4-7) on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Alvernia. 

Alvernia led the Spartans by just two, 33-31, going into the half. But, Alvernia started the second half on a 12-2 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter to spark a 37 point half for the Golden Wolves while holding the Spartans to 25. 

It took three minutes for either team to get on the board, but the Spartans struck first with a layup with 16:59 on the clock. Alvernia evened it up with a Keba Mitchell layup on the next Alvernia possession. 

The Spartans retook the lead and pushed it to 6-2 with 15:08 to play in the half. Back-to-back jumpers from Jalil Schenck and Robert Mullan evened the game up at 6-6 with 13:42 and a 3-pointer from Mullan gave Alvernia the 9-7 advantage.

Alvernia and York traded points over the next five and a half minutes, and the Spartans retook the lead, 19-17, with a 3-pointer with 8:18 to play in the half.

The Spartans pushed it to a 21-17 lead with 7:00 to play on a Chris Miers layup. A layup from Malik Green off a steal by Malik Slay brought Alvernia back within two, 21-19. Two minutes later, a layup from Mullan evened the game up at 23-23. A free throw from Mitchell gave Alvernia the 24-23 lead with four minutes to play in the half.

Alvernia and York traded the lead through the final four minutes of the half and York appeared to be taking a 31-30 lead into the half, but, Alvernia had other plans. The Golden Wolves had the ball with the shot clock off and Nigel Cooke let a shot off as the buzzer sounded. The shot went through the hoop and Alvernia took a 33-31 lead into the break.

The Golden Wolves started off the second half hot. Jakob Kelly opened the second half scoring with back-to-back jumpers to take a 37-31 lead. Alvernia's hot hand continued as Kelly's four points sparked a 12-2 run for Alvernia over the next four minutes as the Golden Wolves pushed their lead to 45-33. 

The Spartans slowly worked their way back in and made it a seven point game in favor of Alvernia, 48-41. York hung around a seven point deficit for next four minutes and eventually cut it to a four point deficit, 52-48, with 8:27 to play. 

A free throw by Mitchell and back-to-back jumpers quickly pushed Alvernia's lead back to nine, 57-48, with 6:22 to play. Two minutes later, Alvernia made it a double-digit lead with a Malik Green layup with 4:11 to play. But, a Spartans three on their next possession brought York back within seven, 61-54, with 3:12 to play. 

A 3-pointer from Green and a jumper by Mitchell pushed Alvernia's lead to 12, 66-54, with 1:12 to play. 

The Spartans scored just two points the rest of the way as Alvernia put the game away with a layup by Green and a pair of made free throws as the Golden Wolves came away with the 70-56 win.

Mullan led Alvernia with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting. He also added four assists. Green finished with a 14 point, 10 rebound game. 

Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday at Eastern.