Reading, Pa. (Feb. 11, 2023) - Alvernia University (18-6, 12-3) used a 52-point second half to take a 97-83 win over Lebanon Valley College (6-17, 4-10) on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Alvernia.

The Golden Wolves led by as much as 16 points in the first half, but saw that lead drop to three points going into the second half. Lebanon Valley then took a one point lead one minute into the second half before Alvernia went off on a 23-4 run going into the back half of the second half. Alvernia used that run to coast to a 97-83 win.

Alvernia remains atop MAC Commonwealth with the win and one game to play. Alvernia has a midweek bye on Wednesday and will close out the regular season at Hood on Saturday. With a win at Hood, Alvernia will go into the MAC Commonwealth Championship as the top seed.

A 3-pointer by Robert Mullan opened the scoring for the afternoon, and Alvernia quickly took a 7-0 lead following a layup from Malik Green and a pair of made free throws by Nigel Cooke two and a half minutes into the game.

The Dutchmen came right back and got within one, 12-11, three minutes later. But, Alvernia surged back ahead. A jumper from Cooke with 14:26 to play in the opening half sparked a 22-7 run for Alvernia over the next five minutes that gave Alvernia a 34-18 with 9:42 to play in the half. Cooke contributed eight points during the run and Jalil Schenck scored the final five with a 3-pointer and a jumper.

Alvernia continued to hold a solid lead for the next five minutes as the Golden Wolves led by 14, 40-26, with five minutes to play in the half following a driving layup by Schenck. But, Alvernia's double-digit lead did not last much longer. Alvernia was held to just five minutes the rest of the quarter while Lebanon Valley put up 16 to cut Alvernia's lead to just three, 45-42, going into the second half.

The Dutchmen scored the first four points of the second half to take a one point lead over Alvernia, 45-44. But, Alvernia answered with a Green three pointer to retake the lead. That three sparked Alvernia's 23-4 run that gave the Golden Wolves a 68-50 advantage with 11:23 to play. Green scored 12 during the run - including another three to bookend the run.

The Dutchmen then hit back-to-back threes to get back within 12, 68-56, over the next two possessions. Alvernia's lead stayed around 12 points for the next three minutes until Cooke and Schenck combined for back-to-back threes to push Alvernia's lead over the 20-point threshold, 81-59, with 6:33 to play.

Alvernia coasted to the finish and took its largest lead, 97-73, with 1:36 to play on a Cooke three. Cooke's three marked Alvernia's final points of the game. The Dutchmen scored the final ten unanswered, but Alvernia still came away with the 97-83 win on senior day. 

Both Green and Jakob Kelly finished with 20 points each. Green was 7-for-15 shooting with two threes, and Kelly went 7-for-11 with two threes. Kelly also added a team-high 14 boards. Cooke finished with 19 points and seven assists. 

Alvernia has off Wednesday and will close out the regular season on Saturday at Hood.