GAMBIER, Ohio -- Four players in double figures led the Allegheny men's basketball team to its first North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory of the 2018-19 season as the Gators topped Kenyon on the road, 66-57.

The victory is the first for the Gators at Kenyon since Jan. 31, 2015 when Allegheny bested the Lords by a final score of 59-56. Overall this season, Allegheny improves to 5-7.

Save for a pair of ties over the first eight minutes of the period, the Gators trailed for most of the opening part of the second half. Down 43-40 with under 11:30 to play, a layup by Jordan Greynolds at the 11:16-mark kick-started a 7-0 run that would eventually put Allegheny ahead for good. The next five points all came off the hand of Zach Ecker as the Gators took the lead (45-43) for the first time since there were more than 11 minutes to play in the first half on a three-point play by the freshman at 10:17 of the second half. An Ecker dunk at 10:03 capped the run with an exclamation point, 47-43.

The Lords cut the deficit to one point multiple times down the stretch, but each time Allegheny responded to maintain the advantage. A pair of free throws with 4:12 left brought Kenyon within one for the final time at 54-53, but a 12-4 run to close out play by Allegheny sealed the NCAC victory. Six of those points were by Jordan Rawls and five came from Brian Roberts, Jr.

Rawls turned in a game-high 22 points (on 8-of-15 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line) and a season-best 13 rebounds for his 10th career double-double. Three others joined Rawls in double figures: Greynolds reached the mark for the sixth time at 14 points, plus added nine rebounds; despite an off-night from the field, Roberts, Jr., persevered to tally 13 points thanks to a 6-for-8 showing at the charity stripe; and Ecker came off the bench in the second half to score all 12 of his points.

Four of the next five Gator games are at the Wise Center, beginning with an 8 p.m. tip-off against Hiram on Wednesday, Jan. 9.