Grantham, Pa. (Jan. 24, 2026) - Alvernia University (9-7, 3-3) used a 48 point first half to power past Messiah University (4-13, 0-6), 88-70, on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth Men's Basketball action at Messiah.

After an early trading of baskets, Alvernia came out of the first media timeout on fire. The Golden Wolves outscored the Falcons 31-9 over the course of the next 12 minutes and change, taking a 42-19 lead. The Golden Wolves built their lead up to as much as 29 in the second half en route to the 88-70 win.

How it Happened

• Alvernia took a quick 5-0 lead with a deep 3-pointer by Robert Cottrell to open the scoring followed by a pull-up jumper from Elijah Hamilton. After Messiah answered with a quick six points, another three from Cottrell gave the Golden Wolves the 8-6 lead through three and a half minutes of action. Messiah tied it up at 8-8, and Cottrell knocked down his third three through the early minutes to give the Golden Wolves an 11-8 lead early.
• The Golden Wolves then came out of the first media timeout of the game on fire. Alvernia held the Falcons to just nine points over the next 12 minutes while the Golden Wolves racked up 31 points of their own. Elijah Hamilton scored 12 in the run, and Janye Stanley was right behind him with 11. A Rasheem Dearry jumper capped off the run and gave Alvernia the 42-19 lead with 3:25 to play in the first half.
• Back-to-back jumpers by Mason Jones kept things rolling for Alvernia, giving the Golden Wolves the 46-22 advantage. The Falcons got a few points back, but a layup from Hamilton closed out the second half and gave Alvernia the 48-27 lead going into the break.
• The Falcons opened the second half scoring with a hook shot, but Alvernia answered with quick jumpers from Hamilton and Cottrell to push its lead to 24 points, 53-29. Alvernia then pushed its lead to its largest of the afternoon, 59-30, on a pair of made free throws by Cottrell and putback jumper by Mason Jones with 16:26 to play.
• The Falcons got back within 20, 61-41, on back-to-back 3-pointers with 13:17 to go, but Alvernia answered and pushed its lead back up to 28, 71-43, with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes. Stanley led Alvernia during the run with six of Alvernia's ten points.
• Back-to-back 3-pointers from Hamilton and Saleem Bell-Hudson kept Alvernia up by 28, 77-49, with under eight minutes to go. The Falcons closed in slightly but never threatened the rest of the way as both sides began to sub in. Alvernia went on to take the 88-70 win over the Falcons, with a Nasir Williams layup marking Alvernia's final points of the afternoon.

Inside the Box Score

• Elijah Hamilton led Alvernia with 23 points off of 10-for-11 shooting. He was 1-for-1 from deep and went 2-for-2 from the line. 
• Robert Cottrell finished with 20 points, and was 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.
• Kareem Diaz finished with a team-high nine rebounds.
• The Golden Wolves forced 19 Messiah turnovers on the afternoon, and Alvernia scored 25 points off of those 19 turnovers.
• This afternoon's win marked Alvernia's 12th straight win against the Falcons

Up Next

• Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday hosting Eastern University. The Eagles are 3-3 in MAC Commonwealth play, but fell to Hood earlier today, 91-82.