SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg used a lengthy run in the early stages of the second half to defeat Allegheny 87-71 in a North Coast Athletic Conference matinee in the Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The host Tigers (11-6, 5-5 NCAC) outscored the Gators (5-12, 2-8 NCAC) 20-7 over the opening six minutes of the second half to break open a tight game, and then held off a Gator comeback to earn the conference victory.

Senior Evan Zabriski (pictured above) and freshman Jamison Nee each scored 16 points to lead the Gators, while rookie Jordan Rawls scored 11.  The Gators netted seven three-pointers for the game to the Tigers' three, but Wittenberg owned a commanding 50-18 advantage in points in the paint, and out-rebounded Allegheny 37-27.

Nee connected on a pair of three pointers in the first game's first minute to stake the Gators out to an early 6-0 lead.  After the Tigers tied it, Rawls scored four points and Nee two in an 80-second span to put the Gators back out in front 12-6 with just over 15 minutes left in the opening half.

The fortunes quickly changed, as Wittenberg answered with 14 unanswered points in a five-minute span to jump in front 20-12 at the halfway mark of the opening frame.  The Gators trimmed the lead to seven, 26-19, on a long three-pointer from Zack Pateras with 7:42 left, but the Tigers scored on back-to-back trips to push their lead back into double figures.  Allegheny's defense then clamped down to hold the Tigers without a field goal over the next four minutes, allowing Allegheny to again pull to within seven, 30-23, on a pair of free throws by Rawls with 2:45 remaining.  The teams traded points on the next two possessions, before a layup from Wittenberg's Chris Sloenker closing the half and giving the Tigers a 37-27 lead at the intermission.

Wittenberg tallied 14 first half field goals to the Gators' seven, but Allegheny was able to stay in the ballgame thanks to four three-pointers, including two from Nee, and a 9-for-11 performance from the foul line, with Rawls going 7-for-8.

The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half, before Wittenberg embarked on its decisive run.  The Tigers rattled off 13 unanswered points in a three-minute span to up their lead to 52-29 with 16:26 left, before eventually taking a 58-34 advantage at the 14-minute mark.  

Zabriski connected on a conventional three-point play to halt the Tiger momentum with 12:40 left, and the senior would then score on the next two trips as well to pull the Gators to within 62-44 at the 11-minute mark.  After eight quick points from Wittenberg, the Gators countered with a 7-0 run, with four points from Zabriski and a three-pointer from Nee, to trim the gap to 70-53 with 7:28 left.

Allegheny continued to chip away, receiving two points apiece from Zabriski, Pateras, and Zach Shedd followed by another three from Nee to pull to within 13, 76-63, with 5:02 to play.  Wittenberg, however, countered with five straight points to up its lead to 18 with 3:29 remaining, effectively putting the game away.

The Gators shot a solid 50 percent from the field (13-for-26) in the second half, but the Tigers were a stellar 68 percent (17-for-25) over the final 20 minutes, and finished at 55 percent for the game.  Allegheny tallied seven three-pointers on the afternoon to the Tigers' three, led by Nee's 4-for-5 effort, while the Gators shot an even 80 percent from the foul line (24-for-30), with Rawls going 8-for-10.

Jaelin Williams led Wittenberg with 20 points, while Cody Phillippi added 15.  Williams and Landon Hormann tied for team-high honors with six rebounds apiece. Zabriski led both sides with seven boards.  

The Gators will return home for their next contest, hosting NCAC foe Kenyon on Wed. Jan. 25 beginning at 8 p.m. in the David V. Wise Center.