GAMBIER, Ohio – In a game heavy on offense, Allegheny junior Billy Urso hit a school-record eight three-pointers, but it wasn't enough, as host Kenyon dealt the Gators a 97-78 loss in North Coast Athletic Conference action.
 
Urso scored a career-high 30 points, and entered the school record books with a trifecta from the left wing with 3:21 left in regulation.  His eight treys broke the previous record of seven, shared by five players, and last accomplished by John O'Donnell on Dec. 10, 2013, also against Kenyon.
 
Urso was one of three Gators to score in double figures, as Jordan Rawls scored 14 points and Sean Dougherty added a career-high 11, while Liam Wilby also put in a career-high nine points.
 
While Urso connected on eight of the Gators' nine three-pointers on the evening, Kenyon found success from deep from a number of sources, as 16 of the Lords' 33 field goals on the evening came from behind the arc.  Kenyon shot 52 percent overall for the game, while the Lords also turned in a 15-for-16 showing from the foul line
 
Behind Urso, Allegheny got off to a strong start, as the veteran connected on three-pointers on three of the Gators' first four possessions to stake the visitors out to a 9-2 just three minutes into play. 
 
After Kenyon cut the gap to 9-6, Dougherty took over for the Gators, as he scored six points in an 80-second span, including a pair of put-backs, before Urso connected on a pair of free throws to take a 17-12 lead with 12:25 left in the half.
 
The Lords would then go to the long ball, embarking on a 21-8 run, spurred by four three-pointers, to take a 33-25 lead with just over seven minutes to go.  The advantage eventually grew to 13, 45-32, at the three-minute mark, before the Gators scored seven of the final nine points of the half to cut the gap to 47-39 at the intermission.
 
Rawls connected on a pair of free throws in the opening minute of the second half to cut it to 47-41, and the teams would then trade baskets over the next few possessions.  With 15:36 left, Rawls hit another freebie to make the score 56-48 in favor of the Lords, but the visitors countered by hitting three-pointers on three straight trips to spur a 13-3 run and up the lead to 69-51 with 13:30 left.
 
The Gators then looked to chip away.  Urso's sixth three of the night cut the gap to 71-56 with 12 minutes left, and three minutes later, a pair of Dougherty freebies pulled Allegheny to within 13, 75-62.  However, the Lords answered with an 11-3 run over the next three minutes to up the lead to 86-65 with just over six minutes left.
 
Allegheny pulled to within 15 twice -  on Urso's record-tying seventh trey with 4:56 let and again on his eighth trifecta with 3:21 to go -  but the Gators could get no closer, as Kenyon eased down the stretch to earn the series sweep on the season.

Phillip Crampton led five scorers in double-figures for the Lords with 22 points, while also pulling in a game-high seven rebounds.  Teammate Matt Shifrin chipped in 22 points.
 
Dougherty and Wilby shared the Gators' team lead with six rebounds apiece, while Brendan O'Toole and Lamar Todd hauled in five caroms apiece.  The Gators finished with a 37-35 advantage on the glass, including 15 offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points.  Wilby and Nijon Kirkman led Allegheny with three assists each.
 
The Gators will return home for their next contest, hosting Hiram College on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. in the Wise Center. Prior to the game, Dougherty will be recognized during Senior Day festivities.