SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Allegheny turned in its lowest offensive output of the season, as the Gators fell 59-38 to host Wittenberg in North Coast Athletic Conference action at the Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The Gators committed 16 turnovers, while connecting on a season-low 31 percent from the field (15-for-47), including a 2-for-15 mark from behind the three-point line.  The loss evens the Gators' NCAC record at 5-5, while it drops them under the .500 mark overall at 8-9.

Evan Zabriski was the lone Gator to score in double figures, posting 15 points, while Chris Milon added nine and Josh Valentic eight.  Evan Schweitzer grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds, with Milon grabbeing six, but the Gators were out-rebounded 39-32 on the afternoon.

The game took on a defensive theme from the start, with both squads struggling to find the basket.  The two teams combined for just four field goals and five free throws over the opening 10 minutes, with Allegheny taking a 9-5 lead on a Zabriski three-pointer.

The teams continued to have trouble filling the net, but Wittenberg chipped away at the deficit, using a 9-4 run over a six-minute span to take a 14-11 advantage with 4:30 left in the half.  A Milon jumper with 3:18 remaining pulled the Gators to within one, but it was the last time the visitors would find the scoreboard for the remainder of the half. 

Aided by turnovers on back-to-back Gator possessions in the final 90 seconds, the Tigers seized the momentum as they entered the intermission on a 9-0 run, using a pair of three-pointers over the final minute to take a 24-13 halftime lead.

Over the opening 20 minutes of play, the Gators shot just 5-for-24 from the field, and 1-for-8 from long range, while committing nine turnovers.  Wittenberg didn't fare much better, going 9-for-25 from the floor, and just 3-for-9 from the foul line.

Wittenberg's advantage would stay in double figures for the opening stages of the second half, before Valentic scored eight points in a two-minute span to cut the deficit to 33-26 with 14:58 left in regulation. Three minutes later, a pair of Gabe Seidman free throws made the score 34-28, but Wittenberg would counter with seven straight points to open up another double-digit lead, 41-28, with 10 minutes left.

Zabriski would then take over, scoring six straight points to again trim the deficit to seven, 41-34, with 8:30 remaining, but it was the last offensive highlight of the day for the Gators.  Over the final eight minutes of play, Wittenberg held the Gators to just two field goals, while scoring on seven of their final nine possessions to end the game on an 18-4 run and seal the 21-point victory.

Wittenberg was led on the scoresheet by Chad Roy, who scored 11 points, while Jaelin Williams added 10 and Shane Edwards eight to go with a team-best eight rebounds.

The Gators will look to snap their two-game losing streak on Wed. Jan. 28, when they host NCAC foe Hiram at 7:30 p.m. at the David V. Wise Center.  Allegheny looks to earn the season sweep over the Terriers, after earning a 76-59 win at Hiram on Dec. 3.