MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) produced a game-high 20 points, but it wasn't enough for the Allegheny College men's basketball team in Wednesday night's 72-62 loss against Thiel College inside the David V. Wise Center.

Barker was efficient from 3-point range (2-for-3, 66.7%) and the charity stripe (8-for-10, 80.0%) against the Tomcats (6-13, 5-9 PAC). He also distributed a team-high five assists. Fellow guard Isaiah Portis (Medina, Ohio/Norwayne) also scored in double figures with 11 points, but no other Gator had more than eight.

Thiel's shooting percentages weren't much better than Allegheny's (5-13, 3-10 PAC), but the Tomcats relied on quantity over quality. As a team, the visitors attempted 79 field goals compared to only 52 by the Gators. Three Tomcats reached double-digit points, and two more had nine points in what proved to be a well-balanced offensive performance.

Allegheny started the first half strong. The Gators used an eight-point run to grab a 10-6 advantage within the first four minutes. Six of those eight points during the early rally came from Barker. But as the game progressed, Thiel's physical play slowed the Gators down. The Tomcats secured a three-point lead at halftime, 32-29, and led for nearly the entire second half en route to the 10-point victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny finished 18-of-52 (34.6%) overall but was an efficient 20-of-26 (75.0%) from the foul line.
• Thiel shot 30-of-79 from the floor, equaling a 38.0% rate.
• The Gators, led by Mike Noonan (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) with four, recorded a game-high seven blocks as a team.
• The Tomcats won the battle on the boards, 49-to-36, and had more steals, 13-to-7.
• Barker's 20 points and five assists were both game-highs.
• Portis added 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
• Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) and James Sitter (Erie, Pa./Fairview) each had six points off the bench.
• Thiel received double-digit points from Elijah Harden (13), Khamari Accursio-Harris (11), and Ethan Barnes (10).

News and Notes

• During halftime of the women's basketball game on Wednesday, the Allegheny men's basketball student-athletes honored several College faculty and staff members as part of Faculty Appreciation Night.
• Barker reached 20 points in a game for the sixth time this season.
• Portis, who has started three straight contests, has scored double-digit points in four consecutive games.
• Four blocks are a career-high for Noonan.

Up Next
Allegheny's three-game homestand continues on Saturday, January 27, when the Gators welcome Geneva College to the Wise Center at 4:00 p.m.