Reading, Pa. (January 14, 2026) - Alvernia University (8-5, 2-1) dropped a MAC Commonwealth Championship game rematch to (York College (12-2, 2-1), 79-62, Wednesday night in a MAC Commonwealth men's basketball clash on Alvernia's Jack McCloskey Court. 

The Spartans held just a four point, 35-31 advantage at the half but then ripped off a 9-2 scoring run to start the second half and outscored the Golden Wolves 44-31 in the final 20 minutes of the ballgame to secure the 17 point victory over Alvernia. 

The matchup came as the first meeting since the Golden Wolves and the Spartans met in the MAC Commonwealth title game last February. 

How it Happened

• The Golden Wolves were the ones that got hot early in the contest and jumped out to an early six point, 12-6, advantage in the first six minutes of the ballgame thanks to eight points from Elijah Hamilton. 
• The Spartans responded with a three on the ensuing possession and then tallied six of the next 11 points of the game but the Golden Wolves still held a five point, 17-12 lead over the Spartans. 
• Both teams would go scoreless over the next three minutes before a York free throw and a Tate Landis layup broke the scoreless drought and pulled the Spartans within two, 17-15. 
• York and Alvernia then traded buckets back and forth before another Landis driving layup leveled the score at 19 a piece. 
• The Golden Wolves responded with back to back layups from Janye Stanley and Austin Mbuyi gave Alvernia the lead back, 23-19 with under six to play in the half. 
• The Spartans began to crawl back with an 8-6 scoring run that pulled them within two, 29-27, before a Rowe three ball with under three to play in the half gave the Spartans their first lead since 16:19 mark. 
• York then extended its lead over the final two minutes of the game with another Rowe three and then a Rowe steal and dunk to send the Spartans into the half with a four point, 35-31 lead. 
• Elijah Hamilton led the Golden Wolves in the first half with 14 points. Janye Stanley followed with seven and Rasheem Dearry added four. 
• York came out of the break and rattled off a 9-2 scoring run that pushed the lead to double digits, 44-33, and forced Alvernia's Mike Miller Jr. to take a timeout just 2:13 into the half. 
• The Golden Wolves responded with a 13-4 scoring run of their own over the next five minutes of action to cut the deficit to two, 48-46, with under 12 minutes to play in the game. 
• York then turned it on and never looked back. The Spartans rattled off a 17-4 scoring stretch over the next four minutes to swing the lead to 15, 65-50, with under seven to play. The Spartans then ended the game on a 14-12 scoring run and the Golden Wolves were never able to pull within even ten points as York secured the 79-62 victory. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Elijah Hamilton led the Golden Wolves with a 25 point, ten rebound double-double in the setback. Hamilton was 11-15 from the floor and also added one steal and a game high three blocks. The 25 point performance is the second most points this season for the junior forward. 
• Janye Stanley and Robert Cottrell rounded out the Golden Wolves in double figures. Stanley tallied 13 points and added four rebounds and Cottrell tacked on ten points, three rebounds and two assists. 

Up Next 

• The Golden Wolves are back in action on Saturday when they travel across town to take on rivals Albright College at 3:00 PM in Albright's Bollman Center. The matchup will be the 51st meeting between the two crosstown rivals with the Golden Wolves holding a 30-20 advantage in the series. That includes winning nine of the last ten matchups against the Lions including an 89-81 victory last year in the MAC Commonwealth semifinal at the Bollman Center.