Reading, Pa. (Jan. 6, 2024) - Alvernia University's Robert Mullan hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:09 to play to lead the Golden Wolves to an 88-83 win over Albright College on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Alvernia.

With the game locked up at 83-83, Nigel Cooke kicked the ball out to Mullan off the far side of the arc. Mullan's shot fell to give Alvernia the 3-point lead. Alvernia's defense and a pair of game-sealing made free throws by Kyle Gordon sealed the 88-83 win.

With the win, Alvernia improves to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Lions fall to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in MAC Commonwealth play.

How it Happened

• Alvernia opened the game with a dunk from Gordon off the feed of Alex Cercado on the first possession of the game and made it a 4-0 game on a Gordon layup on Alvernia's next possession.
• Alvernia held the lead for the next four minutes until the Lions tied it at 11-11 on a Robert Mangum jumper.
• The Lions then took the lead and built it up to as much as eight, 25-17, on a made free throw with 9:31 to play in the opening half.
• The Lions held a steady lead for the next six minutes until back-to-back 3-pointers from Malik Slay and Jalil Schenck brought Alvernia back within one, 34-33, with 2:46 to play in the half.
• Alvernia tied it at 34-34 on a made free throw by Gordon, but the Lions finished the half on a 9-3 run to take a 43-37 lead into the break.
• The Golden Wolves shot 40.6% in the first half and 38.5% from 3-point range. The Lions shot 50%, but were just 3-for-11 from 3-point territory.
• After a free throw on an early second half foul by Alvernia pushed Albright's lead back to seven, Alvernia got on the board in the second half with a 3-pointer from Mullan. But, Albright maintained a lead well into the second half.
• The Lions built their lead up to seven on a 3-point play by Hasson Massenburg with 14:08 to play.
• Alvernia got right back within four, 58-54, on a 3-pointer by Slay on Alvernia's next possession and the Golden Wolves began chipping away from there.
• The Golden Wolves got within two, 65-63, on a driving layup from Mullan with 9:24 to play and tied the game at 65-65 on a putback layup from Gordon with 8:40 to go.
• Albright and Alvernia continuously matched each other from there. The game was tied seven more times over the next seven minutes until Cooke found Mullan for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:09 to play
• Alvernia got a defensive stop on Albright's next possession with Cooke coming down with the board.
• Albright had one more look after Alvernia was blocked on its next possession, but Gordon with the defensive contested rebound. He was fouled in the process and sent to the line where he sealed the game with two made free throws for the 88-83 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Mullan led all scorers with 26 points. He shot 9-for-17 overall and 5-for-8 from 3-point territory.
• Gordon finished with a 19 point, 10 rebound double-double. Jakob Kelly also had 13 points and ten rebounds for a double-double.
• Slay led Alvernia's bench with 15 points.
• Alvernia shot 46.4% overall to Albright's 47%. Alvernia's advantage game from beyond the arc with the Golden Wolves making 10 3-pointers to Albright's five. 

Of Note

• Mullan's 26 points was a career-high for the senior. His previous career-high also came against Albright. Mullan scored 25 against the Lions on February 4 of last season.
• Gordon matched his career high (19 points vs. Widener on 1/10/18) and also had his first double-double since the 2017-18 season.
• Neither team led by more than eight points. Albright led 70% of the game and for 38% of the second half. The game was tied 13 total times, including eight times in the second half.
• Alvernia is now 27-19 all-time against Albright. The Golden Wolves have also now won six straight against Albright.

Up Next

• Alvernia heads to Messiah University on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM.
• Alvernia has won seven straight against Messiah dating back to December 14, 2019.
• The Falcons come into Wednesday with a 4-9 overall record and an 0-2 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons are coming off an 87-66 loss to Hood earlier today.