Box Score
GRANVILLE, Ohio -- Craig Devinney led the Allegheny men's basketball team with a season-high 21 points and Donte Briscoe had a double-double, compiling 18 points and 10 rebounds, to guide the Gators over Denison, 85-79, in North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday. With the win, Allegheny secured its first winning season since 2002-03 and likely claimed a home game in the first round of the NCAC Tournament.
The Gators (13-9, 10-4) never trailed in the second half, but had their hands full in fighting off the Big Red. The visitors held just a 74-73 lead when George Raftis put in a layup with 4:37 left. Peter Jones extended Allegheny's lead to 77-73 by making 1 of 2 from the free-throw line.
Denison's Dimonde Hale brought the Big Red within two, making a layup with 3:36 remaining, but the Gators then scored the games next five points -- a jumper by Devinney and then a 3-pointer by Briscoe which gave Allegheny an 82-75 lead with 2:27 on the clock.
The hosts tried to claw their way back -- Chris Luther hit one charity throw and Hale scored a layup and a free throw -- but Charlie Jaicks's trey with 12 seconds left helped the Gators forge the game-ending score.
The Big Red (6-17, 6-8) led by as many as six in the first half. Hale scored six points and Luther had five, sending Denison to an early 15-9 advantage. With 7:07 remaining in the first half, Henry Heeter put a layup which gave Allegheny a 30-29 lead. Devone McLeod added a layup and then Raftis hit a layup and the ensuing free throw, putting the Gators up 35-29.
Denison last led 49-48 with 18:03 left in the second after Brett Tiberi knocked down a layup and a freebie. Devinney answered with a trey to put Allegheny ahead.
After a pair of tie scores, the Gators turned a 58-57 edge into a 66-59 lead. Briscoe hit his first three of the night and Devinney followed with a layup. Hale answered back for the Big Red before Devinney buried a trey of his own with 11:42 left.
Denison twice trimmed its deficit to two points before finally whittling it down to one in the final minutes. Hale made a layup with 4:59 to go before the Gators pushed away for good.
Hale was the game's leading scorer. He had 27 points for the Big Red while Larry Farmer contributed a double-double, finishing with 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists. Luther added 19 points for the hosts.
Raftis contributed 12 points to the Allegheny effort and moved into eighth on the Gators' all-time field goals list. With 515 field goals made, he passed David Masciola (511 in 1992-96) and is now one behind Nick Catanzarite (516 in 1999-03).
Jaicks chipped in with 10 points and four assists for the Blue and Gold. He made two three-pointers, moving into eighth on the all-time list with 124. He moved ahead of Catanzarite (122) and Jake Delsandro (123 in 1996-00).
The Gators will be in action next on Wednesday. They will play Hiram at 7:30 p.m. Prior to the game, Allegheny will recognize its six seniors.
