Box Score GRANVILLE, Ohio - Hampered by just a 5-for-29 performance from behind the three-point line, the Gators saw their losing skid reach six with a 55-46 loss to North Coast Athletic Conference foe Denison.

Despite the shooting woes, the Gators (3-12, 0-8 NCAC) found themselves ahead 43-42 with 6:48 left in regulation. However, Allegheny managed just one field goal the rest of the way, as Denison (7-8, 3-5 NCAC) closed the contest on a 13-3 run to pull away for the victory.  

Ryan Stanko and Brandon Smith each scored 13 points for Allegheny, with Smith going 6-for-7 from the floor and grabbing eight rebounds to share the team lead with Clark Tritto.  The Gators, who managed just eight second half field goals, shot a season-low 35 percent (19-for-53) from the field, punctuated with the 5-for-29 performance from long range.

The Denison offense was also held in check, as the Gators held the Big Red to a 39 percent mark from the floor, including 3-for-14 on three-pointers.  However, while Allegheny continued to search for its outside game, the Denison front court was strong, as the Big Red tallied 34 points in the paint, and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.   The Gators also attempted just four free throws to Denison's 13.

The Big Red threatened to take control early, opening up a 9-2 lead just 2:30 into the first half.  The Gators countered to cut the gap to 11-10, with Sam Calhoun and Stanko each hitting threes during the 8-2 run.  Denison's lead would hover between three and five points over the next several minutes until five points from Josh Valentic and four from Smith keyed a 9-3 run and gave Allegheny its first lead of the day, 25-21, with 3:38 until the half.

The four-point advantage was short-lived, as Denison seized the momentum entering halftime, closing the opening stanza on a 9-0 run to go into the locker room with a 30-25 lead.

The teams would trade buckets in the opening stages of the second half, until the Big Red eventually opened up a 40-32 lead at the 12-minute mark.  Led by Stanko, Allegheny charged back, with the senior scoring seven points in a four-minute span to highlight an 11-2 run, sealed with a Brian Holland lay up, to give the Gators a 43-42 lead with 6:49 left in regulation.

It was the final offensive highlight of the day for the Gators, however, as they went 1-for-8 from the field (1-for-7 from long range) and committed four turnovers over the final 6:40.  Denison regained a 44-43 lead with 5:17 left and never looked back, ending the game on a 13-3 run to close out the nine-point win.  

Denison was led on the scoresheet by Alex Longi, who tallied a game-high 18 points, while Briggs King came off the bench to tally a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, 

Allegheny will now face a tough task as it looks to snap its losing skid and earn its first NCAC victory, as the Gators travel to Wooster, ranked second in the nation, on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:30 p.m.