BOX SCORE Lebanon, Pa. (Jan. 7, 2023) - Alvernia University (11-3, 5-1) survived a double-overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon, taking a 92-87 decision over Lebanon Valley College (4-10, 2-3) in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Lebanon Valley.

Malik Green recorded 21 rebounds - including 18 defensive boards - to tie the single-game rebounding record. He joins Tillman Sims (2/9/02 vs. Neumann), Ray Strickland (3/3/04 vs. Westminster) and Harrison Deyo (11/22/14 vs Lycoming College) as individuals who have finished a game with 21 rebounds.

Alvernia trailed for most of the second half, but Robert Mullan hit a corner three with 30 seconds remaining in regulation to give Alvernia the 72-70 advantage. The Dutchmen evened it up at 72-72 to send it into overtime. Alvernia held a seven point advantage to open the first overtime period, but the Dutchmen came back and forced a second OT. Alvernia scored the opening points of the second overtime period and led the rest of the way for the 92-85 win.

This is the second straight trip to Lebanon Valley for Alvernia that resulted in a double-overtime win for the Golden Wolves. Alvernia edged out the 84-82 win over Lebanon Valley last year on a buzzer beater.

The Golden Wolves opened the scoring with a 3-pointer by Mullan to give Alvernia the early 3-0 lead. Alvernia made it a 9-2 game with three straight layups, including two from Keba Mitchell, to make it a seven point game after three minutes of action. But, the Dutchmen went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to take the 14-9 lead over Alvernia.

A 3-pointer by Nigel Cooke at the midway point of the half brought Alvernia within one, 18-17, but the Dutchmen went on a 9-2 run to push their lead back to eight, 27-19, with 8:18 to play in the quarter.

A 3-pointer by Mullan sparked an 11-3 run by Alvernia that was capped by a Jalil Schenck layup to even the game up at 30-30 with 4:18 to play. However, Alvernia was held to just three points the remainder of the half while Lebanon Valley added nine to its line to take a 39-33 lead into the half.

The Dutchmen opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Colin Jones to make it a 42-33 game after 30 seconds of second half play. The Golden Wolves started to chip away and found themselves within three, 48-45, following a Jakob Kelly field goal with 14:27 to play. Alvernia then got within one, 48-47, on a putback layup by Mitchell and took the lead, 50-48 on a Cooke three.

Alvernia's lead was brief as the Golden Wolves were held scoreless for over four minutes while the Dutchmen scored 11 straight to go up 59-50 on Alvernia with 9:12 to play. 

A driving layup by Cooke ended Alvernia's scoreless drought with 9:00 on the clock, but the Dutchmen pushed their lead to double-digits and held it there until there was just over five minutes to play.

Back-to-back threes by Schenck brought Alvernia within seven, 68-61, with 5:19 to play, and Alvernia made it a one possession game, 68-65, with 3:47 on the clock on a layup by Cooke.

The Golden Wolves and Dutchmen traded points until Mullan hit his corner three to give Alvernia the 72-20 lead with 27 seconds to play. But, Alvernia could not hold off one final attempt by the Dutchmen as Luis Garcia evened the game up at 72-72 to send it to overtime.

Alvernia opened the first overtime scoring seven straight points - five on foul shots - to take a 79-72 advantage. But, the Golden Wolves could not hold on as they were held to two points the rest of the overtime period. The Dutchmen put up nine to send it to a second overtime tied at 81-81.

A Malik Green layup off of a steal gave Alvernia the 83-81 advantage in the second OT, and, this time, the Golden Wolves were able to hold off the Dutchmen. Alvernia built its lead to 89-82 on a Green layup off a no-look pass by Mullan, and held on for the 92-85 win.

Kelly led Alvernia with 21 points and was one of five Alvernia players to score double-digits. Green and Mullan finished with 19 points each, and Cooke finished with 15 points. Green tied the single-game rebounding record with 21 boards.

Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday at Messiah University.