READING, Pa. – For the second consecutive year, the Albright men's basketball team's game at crosstown-rival Alvernia went into overtime. Much like last season, the Lions came out on top, defeating the Golden Wolves in double overtime, 89-80, on Wednesday night.
For a game that stayed close and had drama throughout, the Lions dominated the second overtime period. Albright held Alvernia without a field goal in the period until the Golden Wolves made a pair of meaningless shots in the final 30 seconds. By that point, Albright had a 13-point lead, its largest lead of the game.
Jared Rappoport opened the period with a three-point play to make it 76-73. Later in the period with the Lions ahead, 78-76, Albright went on an 11-0 run to put the game safely out of reach. A three-point play from
Samuel Majekodunmi capped the run with 1:33 to play.
DeJuan Smith scored six of his team-high 20 points in the second overtime. He also finished with a game-high 13 rebounds.
Late in the first overtime,
Brandon Lindsay grabbed an offensive rebound and powered to the rim to give the Lions a 73-71 lead with just 29 seconds to play. Mike Miller responded with a jumper in the lane for Alvernia to re-tie the score at 73 with just six seconds left. Lindsay attempted a long three at the horn, but the shot banked and nicked the front rim on its way to the floor. Lindsay finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
Albright needed a couple of comebacks in the second half to force overtime. Alvernia had a 60-52 lead after a Miller jumper with 8:12 to play. The Lions' defense clamped down as it held Alvernia scoreless for nearly five minutes. In that time, Albright scored eight straight points to tie the score at 60. Smith scored four of the points on that run while Rappoport and Majekodunmi each hit a shot. Rappoport came off the bench with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Even with that run, Alvernia regained its footing and led, 66-61, with 2:14 to play in regulation.
Fred Rowles led the comeback with a pair of free throws and the tying layup on a fast break after a steal by Smith. Alvernia couldn't get a decent look on its last possession in an attempt to win the game, so it was off to overtime. Rowles had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
In the first half, Albright led by as many as 10 on two separate occasions. Smith made it 23-13 with a layup at 7:31, and
Isaiah Harris hit a pair of free throws a minute later to make it 25-15. The Lions carried a 37-35 lead into the intermission.
Albright played in its first back-to-back overtime games since the 2001-02 season. That year, Albright lost to Moravian before defeating Messiah in triple overtime. That Messiah victory was the last time the Lions played a triple overtime game before Saturday's 101-100 loss to the Falcons at Bollman Center.
Albright returns home to face Widener on Saturday at 4 p.m.
