GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny men's basketball team fell on the road in nonconference play to Thiel in a close 80-79 contest Sunday (Nov. 28).

Brian Roberts, Jr. (Copley, Ohio/Copley) led the Gators with 25 points to go alongside two assists and two rebounds. Caden Hinckley (Bosie, Idaho/Mt. Lebanon (Pa.)) had a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double as well as a team-high five assists. Jordan Greynolds (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) also finished in double figures with 11 points. Andre Wilder (Beaver Falls, Pa./Lincoln Park) had eight points and nine rebounds, while Mike Noonan (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) also tallied eight points.

The Gators started the game on an 8-0 run, fueled by three-pointers from Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) and Roberts, Jr. Thiel fought back, tying the game at 12-12 before taking the lead at 19-18. After trading the lead back-and-forth, a quick 5-0 run over just a 30-second span gave the Gators a 28-21 lead. From that point forward in the half, the Gators outscored the Tomcats 17-5 to take a 45-26 halftime lead.

Allegheny continued to press their advantage in the second half as their lead grew to 53-28 early on. That lead grew to as much as 25 before Thiel fought back once more, eventually taking a 74-73 lead with just three minutes to play. Noonan provided a response on the Gators' ensuing possession to put them back in the lead, 75-74. After that basket, the Tomcats scored the next six points to take an 80-75 advantage. Roberts, Jr. broke up the run to cut the lead to three with under 30 seconds to play. After Thiel missed a pair of free throws, Hinckley pulled the Gators within one with a layup, but Allegheny was unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer following another pair of missed free throws down the stretch.

The Gators open up North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play Wednesday (Dec. 1) as they host Hiram. Tipoff is set for 6 pm. at the James H. Mullen Jr. Arena.