Reading, Pa. (Jan. 4, 2023) - Alvernia University (10-3, 4-1) held off multiple second half pushes by Eastern University (10-3, 3-1) and Keba Mitchell tied the single-game block record as Alvernia came away with a 86-75 win over the Eagles on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action. 

The Eastern loss marks its first loss in MAC Commonwealth this season as Alvernia now sits in first place in conference play. 

Mitchell recorded nine blocks for a new career high as he tied the single-game record of nine blocks made in a game. He tied the record set by Cory Boone on November 23, 2021 against Rowan. 

The Eagles got on the board first with a jumper by Kevin Reeves on their opening possession. Alvernia took the lead following a Jakob Kelly free throw and a Malik Green layup, and pushed their lead to 12-2 on a Mitchell layup off the feed of Green. 

The Golden Wolves continued to push the Eagles and made it a 12 point game, 21-9, on a Kyle Gordon layup with 12:22 to play in the half.

The Eagles worked their way back into the contest and cut Alvernia's lead down to five, 26-21, with 7:30 to play. The two teams traded points and as it remained a five point game, 36-31, with 3:21 to play in the half. 

A 3-pointer by Robert Mullan sparked a 12-5 run by Alvernia to close out the half as the Golden Wolves took a 48-36 lead into the half. 

The Eagles scored the opening points of the second half on free throws, but Alvernia answered with a layup by Nigel Cooke and a 3-pointer by Kelly. The Golden Wolves then extended their lead to 17 on a layup by Cooke with 18:26 to play. 

Alvernia's scoring then went cold for the next six minutes as the Eagles worked their way back in and made it a three point game, 59-56, on a fastbreak layup off a steal by Jaron Fairweather with 12:26 to play. 

Alvernia then went on a quick 6-0 run that came solely off the hand of Kelly as the Golden Wolves built their back up to nine, 65-56. Two minutes later, Alvernia was back in front by double-digits, 69-58, following a Malik Slay jumper with 8:45 to play.

Alvernia did not hold the double-digit lead long as Eastern was back within two possessions two minutes later on back-to-back field goals. The Golden Wolves again seemed to pull away, but the Eagles fought their way back to within five, 80-75, with 90 seconds to play.

On Alvernia's next possession, Mitchell hit a jumper off the assist of Coke and then threw down a dunk with under a minute to play as Alvernia went up by nine, 84-75. 

The Eagles did not make another shot while Cooke converted two late free throws to secure Alvernia's 86-75 win. 

In addition to Mitchell's record-tying nine blocks, the graduate student finished as one of three players with a team-high 15 points. He also added five boards, two assists, and two steals to his line. Green and Cooke also finished with 15, and Kelly finished with a 14 point, 12 rebound double-double. 

Alvernia is back in action on Saturday at Lebanon Valley.