SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – A lengthy first half run proved to be the difference, as host Wittenberg remained unbeaten on the season with an 83-62 victory over Allegheny in the Gators' 2017-18 North Coast Athletic Conference opener.
 
Leading 18-15 at the midpoint of the first half, the Tigers (6-0, 3-0 NCAC) outscored the Gators (3-3, 0-1 NCAC) 22-5 over the final 10 minutes to open up a 40-20 halftime lead from which Allegheny couldn't recover.
 
The game was evenly-played throughout the opening stages of the first half.  After the teams traded baskets over the first four minutes, the Tigers threatened to pull with a 6-0 run that opened up a 17-10 lead at the 11-minute mark.  The Gators answered right back, with a hook shot in the paint from Brendan O'Toole and a three-pointer by Zack Pateras closing the gap to 18-15 with 10 minutes to go.
 
Over the next five minutes, however, Wittenberg would take control.  The Tigers came away with points on seven of its next eight trips, while holding the Gators to a single free throw, en-route to opening up a 34-16 advantage at the 5-minute mark.  A two-handed slam from Zach Shedd with just inside four minutes left temporarily halted the Tiger momentum, but the hosts would go on to score six of the final eight points of the half to take a 20-point halftime lead.
 
The Tigers eventually opened up a 61-36 lead at the 10-minute mark of the second half, but the Gators didn't go away, outscoring the hosts 27-20 the rest of the way.  Lamar Todd had 10 points over the final nine minutes of play and Nijon Kirkman seven, while the Allegheny defense allowed just six Wittenberg field goals over the span. 
 
After connecting on just nine of 26 shots from the field in the first half, including a 1-for-7 mark from behind the arc, the Gators shot a solid 53 percent (16-for-30) over the final 20 minutes, with three three-pointers.
 
Todd's 10 points led Allegheny on the day, while Jordan Rawls scored nine for the Gators, and Kirkman eight.  Todd also dished a team-best five assists, while Rawls paced his team with five rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
Wittenberg's Mitch Balser scored 16 points to lead both sides, one more than teammate James Johnson.
 
The Gators will now look to bounce back on Wed. Dec. 6, when they welcome NCAC foe Kenyon to the David V. Wise Center for an 8 p.m. tip.