Reading, Pa. (Feb. 25, 2025) - For the first time in program history, Alvernia and Albright Men's Basketball will meet in a postseason contest on Wednesday night when the Golden Wolves head to Albright College for the MAC Commonwealth Men's Basketball semifinal. 

Alvernia Men's Basketball locked up the #4 seed in this year's MAC Commonwealth Championship. The Lions are the regular season champion and earned the #1 seed for the first time since the MAC began recognizing regular season champions in 2018-19. 

#2 York College will host #3 Hood College in the other semifinal on Wednesday night.

Inside the Series
The Golden Wolves and Lions have met 49 times dating back to the 1988-89 season, but it will be the 50th meeting on Wednesday night that will have the most meaning as both teams vie for a spot in Saturday's MAC Commonwealth Championship game.

Alvernia holds a 29-20 record over the Lions all time, and the Golden Wolves have won nine of the last ten meetings. Albright put an end to Alvernia's nine-game win streak within the series back on February 1st. The Lions came into Jack McCloskey Court and defeated the Golden Wolves 85-84 on a game-winning shot with five seconds to play in regulation. 

The Golden Wolves dominated the first meeting of the season series this year, 79-61, back on January 11 at Albright. It marked Alvernia's seventh straight win on the campus of Albright. Dating back to February of 2015, the Golden Wolves have won 10 of the 11 games held in Albright's Bollman Center, with Alvernia's only loss at Albright in the last ten years coming on February 8, 2018.

Alvernia's Season So Far (Conference Rank: #4, NPI Rank: #147)
The Golden Wolves finished the regular season with an overall record of 15-10, and Alvernia finished at 7-7 in MAC Commonwealth play. After dropping the conference opener to York College on January 8th, Alvernia rebounded and picked up two big wins over Albright and Widener. After dropping a road game to Widener, Alvernia again picked up two more wins over Eastern and Stevenson. But, the Golden Wolves finished the first rotation of conference play with a loss to Hood College.

The Golden Wolves opened the second round of conference play with the loss to Albright on February 1st, but bounced back with three wins over the next four games. But, Alvernia lost its final two games of the season, including on a bank-shot buzzer beater by Hood last Wednesday.

The Golden Wolves average 77.4 points per game and hold opponents to an average of 72.9 points per game. This season, Alvernia is shooting 44.7% overall and 37% from 3-point range. Alvernia is also shooting a MAC-leading 77.6% from the line. Alvernia holds its opponents to a league-low 31.5% from 3-point range. Alvernia is also the top defensive rebounding team in the conference - and ninth best in the nation - with an average of 30.2 defensive rebounds per game. But, Alvernia is second-worst in the conference on the offensive side, with just 8.4 offensive boards per game. 

Golden Wolves to Watch
Elijah Hamilton: Elijah Hamilton has made waves for the Golden Wolves in his first year with Alvernia. The sophomore leads Alvernia with a 52.7% shooting percentage, and has a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. He is both the offensive and defensive rebounding leader for Alvernia as well. Hamilton has 27 assists, 10 steals, and 36 blocks on his stat line as well entering Wednesday. 

Jakob Kelly: Jakob Kelly is a verstitle veteran on the court for the Golden Wolves. He is second on the team with 12.9 points per game, and second with 7.6 rebounds per game. He also leads the team with 91 assists and 33 steals. Kelly plays and averages 34 minutes per game and is shooting 44.9% on the season. He also is shooting 38.6% from 3-point range and is an 82% free throw shooter.

Robert Mullan: After missing the first half of the season, Mullan is entering Wednesday in stride. The senior is averaging 10.5 points per game and has 57 assists on the season. Overall, Mullan is shooting 41.7% overall and 36.4% from 3-point range. He just became Alvernia's 30th 1,000 point scorer on Saturday at Stevenson.

Janye Stanley: Janye Stanley enters Albright on a hot-streak, averaging 24.5 points over his last two games. On the season, Stanley is averaging 10.2 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. He is shooting 44.4% overall, and 38% from 3-point range. 

Robert Cottrell: The first year guard for Alvernia is averaging 11.2 points per game and has 60 assists on the season. He is shooting 45.4% overall and leads Alvernia's starters with a 39.7% 3-point shooting percentage. 

Albright's Season So Far (Conference Rank: #1, NPI Rank: #92)
The Lions are 17-7 overall and 12-2 in MAC Commonwealth play. Albright has won its last nine games, and ran the table in the second round of MAC Commonwealth play. The Lions only losses came against Alvernia on January 11th, and a 65-53 loss to York on January 22nd. Albright has not lost at home since falling to Alvernia back in January.

The Lions average 75 points per game and give up an average of 71.8 points per game. Albright is sixth in the conference with a 43.6% field goal percentage, and the Lions hold their opponents to a 42.8% field goal percentage. Albright is also fifth in the conference with a 33% 3-point percentage. The Lions average 5.2 blocks per game, which ranks them eighth in the country. Albright also has the national leader in blocks per game in Phanique Dupree, who averages 3.75 per game. The Lions also lead the conference with 8.13 steals per game. 

Lions to Watch
Eric Chamberlain: 17.5 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, .452 FG %, .277 3PT%, 60 steals, 79 assists

Phanique Dupree: 13.1 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, .517 FG %, .261 3PT%, 31 steals, 90 blocks

Qadir Mitchell: 11.8 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game, .461 FG %, .345 3PT%, 23 steals, seven blocks

Game Information
Admission for adults is $8, and seniors (65+) and youth (7-17) is $6. Admission will be free for kids six and under (with an adult) and MAC students via the presentation of their school IDs. 

Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM at Albright's Bollman Center. Live options are available at auwolves.com/live