Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite trailing for most of the game, Allegheny men's basketball found a way to orchestrate an excellent non-conference win over regional rival Case Western Reserve, Wednesday,  at Horsburgh Gymnasium. After falling behind late, the Spartans were unable to carve into the deficit as the Gators came away with several critical offensive rebounds en route to an 84-76 victory.

Trailing 64-59 with just over eight minutes left in regulation, Allegheny (4-3) pieced together a 14-1 run over the next five minutes to secure its first victory against Case (4-3) since the 1995-96 season.

Weathering a furiously hot start by the Spartans, the Gators pulled within a single possession on numerous occasions in the second half, but were unable to move in front. Ryan Stanko, who finished with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, sparked the game-changing run with a three from the corner, while a traditional three-point play by Chris Milon pushed Allegheny in front for the first time in the second half, 65-64. A jumper by Stanko in the paint on the Gators' ensuing possession stretched the advantage to three with 6:40 to play, and the Blue and Gold never looked back.

The Spartans had previously knocked off three teams from the North Coast Athletic Conference, but Allegheny countered the Spartans' high-octane attack with an outstanding offensive display of its own. Shooting a season-best 55.9% for the game, including a staggering 64.3% (18-of-28) in the second half, the Gators drilled four of their last five attempts from beyond the arc.

In addition to Stanko's sizzling effort, senior Devone McLeod also dropped in 18 points while adding four assists. Milon, who continues to mature at the offensive end of the floor, closed with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Clark Tritto turned in a workhorse performance that included a career-high 40 minutes of playing time. On the floor from the opening tip, the junior forward didn't get a break until the Gators had salted the game away in the last minute of the contest. Shooting 7-of-11 from the field, Tritto finished with 15 points, while adding eight rebounds, six assists, a block, and a steal.

Allegheny ran into a buzz saw in the first half, as Case opened the game by hitting eight of its first 11 shots, including all four attempts from three-point range. Trailing 20-12 with 11 minutes left in the opening period, McLeod fueled a 6-1 run to set the stage for a tight battle as neither team led by more than two possessions until the Gators' game-clinching spurt.