FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Allegheny men's basketball team opened up the 2021-22 campaign with an 88-74 victory on the road at SUNY Fredonia.
 
The win marked the third straight season opening triumph for the Gators.
 
Brian Roberts, Jr. (Copley, Ohio/Copley) led the way for the Gators with a team-high 20 points to go alongside four rebounds and four assists.  He was one of three Gators to finish with a double-digit scoring total.  Caden Hinckley (Boise, Idaho/Mount Lebanon (Pa.)) ended the game with a 17 point, 11 rebound double-double. He also had five steals and four assists. Jordan Greynolds (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) was the third Gator in double figures with a 15 point, nine rebound, three assist performance.  Holden Phillips (Broadlands, Va./Briar Wood) finished with nine points while Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio) netted eight in his collegiate debut.
 
The Gators jumped out to an early 10-2 lead with Hinckley scoring eight of those points.  The Blue Devils slowly chipped away at the Allegheny advantage, gaining a 19-18 lead midway through the half.  After back-and-forth action, the Gators led 27-26 before a 6-1 run in a 49 second span grew the lead to 33-27.  Maintaining that lead through the rest of the half, the Gators owned a 43-37 lead heading into halftime.  
 
Allegheny maintained its lead early in the second half, increasing it to 59-50, its largest lead of the game at that point, before a Fredonia timeout.  Down the stretch, the Gators led by as much as 17 as they closed out the game for the season opening win. 
 
Overall, the Gators shot 44.4% (32-72) from the floor.  They won the rebound battle 46-42.  
 
The Gators will host the season's home opener on Saturday, Nov. 13 when they welcome Saint Vincent to Mullen Arena for a 7 p.m. tip-off.