Reading, Pa. (Jan. 27, 2024) - Alvernia University held off Albright College in dramatic fashion to secure a 73-72 win over the Lions in front of a packed Albright crowd on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Albright.

Alvernia led 73-70 with seconds left in the game. Albright had a look at tying the game and the Lion's Eric Chamberlain let one fly. Chamberlain's shot went through the net, but Albright needed three to tie it. As Albright fans stormed the court with the game appearing to head to overtime, officials ruled Chamberlain's toe was on the line and called it a two point shot as Albright came up one short and Alvernia came away with the 73-72 win.

With the win, Alvernia improved to 13-6 overall and 5-3 in MAC Commonwealth play. Albright dropped to 9-10 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

How it Happened

• Alvernia held the Lions to just three points in the opening six and a half minutes while Alvernia jumped out to an early 10-3 lead.
• A 3-pointer from Nigel Cooke as the half passed its midpoint gave Alvernia the 19-11 lead with 9:15 to play.
• Alvernia pushed its lead to 11, 25-14, following a Jalil Schenck 3-pointer with just over seven minutes to play. But, Albright found its rhythm and went on a 15-2 run over the next three minutes to take a 29-27 lead over Alvernia with 3:54 to play in the half.
• With Albright leading 31-29 with three minutes to play, Alvernia tied the game up at 31-31 on a pair of made free throws by Robert Mullan and finished the half on an 8-0 run to take the 37-31 lead into the half.
• Mullan led Alvernia with 11 points in the first half. The Golden Wolves shot 46.4% in the first half and held Albright to 25.7% shooting (9-for-35) in the opening 20 minutes. 
• Alvernia scored five of the first seven points of the second half to a 42-33 lead after 1:20 of second play action.
• Albright responded with an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to tie the game at 44-44 with 14:43 to play.
• Albright took the lead, 48-46, with 12:45  to play. 
• Alvernia retook the lead, 55-54, on a Jakob Kelly 3-pointer with 9:45 to play. The two teams went back and forth the rest of the way. Alvernia held a slight lead for nearly nine minutes until Albright retook it, 70-69, on a driving layup with 40 seconds to play.
• Alvernia responded with a Kelly jumper with 21 seconds to play to make it a 71-70 game in favor of Alvernia. A pair of made free throws by Mullan gave Alvernia the three point lead, 73-70, with three seconds to play.
• Albright drew up a play for itself in an effort to send the game. The play gave Chamberlain an open shot as the buzzer was sounding. But, his foot was on the line instead of behind it as Alvernia came up with the 73-72 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Mullan led Alvernia with 21 points. He finished 6-for-14 with three made 3-pointers.
• Kyle Gordon led Alvernia with ten boards and added seven points. Cooke finished with eight assists and nine rebounds.

Of Note

• Alvernia's one point victory is the first time in 20 years that Alvernia won just one point over Albright. Alvernia defeated Albright 76-75 in January of 2004.
• Alvernia has now won seven straight against the Lions.
• Alvernia is 5-3 in conference play and in a 3-way tie for third with York heading into postseason play.

Up Next

• Alvernia hosts Messiah University on Wednesday night. The Golden Wolves edged out Messiah in overtime, 89-85, in the first meeting of the two teams earlier this season.