Reading, Pa. (Dec. 16, 2023) - Jakob Kelly scored his 1,000th career point and led Alvernia University to a 67-59 win over Kean University on Saturday afternoon in non-conference men's basketball action. 

Alvernia held off a second half push from the Cougars after Kean recovered from a slow first half. But, the Cougars couldn't quite catch the Golden Wolves as Alvernia picked up its third straight win.

With the win, Alvernia improved to 6-2 on the season. Kean dropped to 6-5 overall.

How it Happened

• Both teams struggled to find any kind of rhythm in the opening minutes of the contest, with Kean holding a slight 6-2 edge through the first four and a half minutes of action.
• After the Golden Wolves and Cougars traded layups, a 3-pointer from Robert Mullan brought Alvernia within one, 8-7, with 13:29 on the clock.
• Mullan's 3-pointer would spark a 14-0 run over the next nearly five minutes as the Golden Wolves took advantage of a lengthy scoring drought by the Cougars. Mullan and Nigel Cooke each had four points during the 14-0 run as Alvernia took the 18-8 lead with just under nine minutes to play in the first half.
• A layup by the Cougars put an end to their scoring run, but a Jacob Stoudt 3-pointer on Alvernia's next possession pushed Alvernia's lead to 11, 21-10.
• Kean then got into foul trouble and Alvernia took advantage of three trips to the line to take a 25-10 lead with 7:31 to play in the half.
• After a trading of baskets over the next four minutes, a Mullan layup and free throw with 3:34 left in the half gave Alvernia an 18 point advantage, 33-15. Alvernia then pushed its lead to 19 with 30 seconds to play on a Kyle Gordon hook shot. 
• A Kean layup marked the final points of the half as Alvernia took a 39-22 lead into the second half.
• Alvernia shot 40% in the first 20 minutes and held Kean to 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
• The Golden Wolves had a slow start to the second half and Kean took advantage. The Cougars went on a 13-4 run over the first six minutes of the half and cut Alvernia's lead down to eight, 43-35.
• A driving layup by Kelly pushed Alvernia's lead back to double-digits, 45-35 and a 3-pointer from Jalil Schenck gave Alvernia the 12 point advantage, 48-36, with 11:27 to play.
• Another layup from Kelly gave Alvernia the 14 point advantage and marked Kelly's 1,000th career point as Alvernia took the 50-36 lead into the final 11 minutes of action.
• The Cougars called a timeout after Kelly's 1,000th point and came out of the quick break on an 8-0 run to make it a six point game, 50-44, with nine minutes to play.
• The Cougars continued to threaten and got within five, 55-50, with five minutes to play.
• Alvernia continued to hold off the Cougars, but Kean still stayed in the fight. Kean got within four twice, but clutch free throws by Cooke, Mullan, and Kelly gave Alvernia breathing room, 67-57, with 30 seconds to play. Kena made two free throws in the final seconds, but it was too little too late as Alvernia took the 67-59 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Kelly needed 12 points entering Saturday to reach the 1,000 point milestone. He scored that and added five for good measure to lead Alvernia with a 17 point, 10 rebound double-double. It is Kelly's second double-double of the season.
• Mullan finished with 15 points and a team-high three assists. Cooke finished with four steals and 11 points, and Gordon finished with five blocks and six points. 
• Alvernia was sent to the line 31 times and converted 20 attempts. Kelly led Alvernia with 9-for-11 shooting from the line.
• Alvernia shot 38% from the floor, its lowest shooting percentage in a win so far this season. But, Alvernia held Kean to 30% shooting - the lowest it has held an opponent to through eight games this year. Alvernia held the Cougars to just one 3-pointer.

Of Note

• Kelly is the 29th player in program history to join the 1,000 point club. Kelly reached the milestone in just 72 games after his first season was just eight games long due to Covid.
• Alvernia is 6-2 through eight games for the second straight season.
• Alvernia hit 45 rebounds for the second time this season, but Alvernia was out-rebound on Saturday by nine as the Cougars brought down 54 boards.
• Kyle Gordon has recorded three games of five blocks so far this season. He already ties Keba Mitchell's mark of three games with five or more blocks last season.

Up Next

• Alvernia will host Penn State Harrisburg for its third game in five days. The Lions are off to a 9-2 start. Monday's game will be Penn State's first game in nine days as the Lions are coming off an 80-64 loss to Bridgewater back on December 9th. Prior to that loss, Harrisburg had won six straight.