PAC Release

TRAFFORD, Pa. -- Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) and Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) represented the Allegheny College men's basketball team on the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) 2024-25 Players to Watch List, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.

Allegheny's backcourt duo are expected to lead the Gators once again this winter after averaging double-digit points in each of the last two seasons.

Barker, a 2023-24 All-PAC Honorable Mention, led the team with 13.7 points and 3.0 assists per game, and was tied for first with 1.2 steals per game. The senior also shot a career-best 41.3% from 3-point range and ranked sixth in the PAC with a free-throw percentage of 80.7%. Barker enters the year only 65 points shy of the coveted 1,000-Point Club.

Over his first two seasons with the Gators, Lang has posted a career average of 13.2 points per game. He's also been a reliable 3-point shooter, making 97 treys at a rate of 40.4%. During his sophomore campaign, Lang averaged career bests in rebounds (4.4) and assists (2.7) per game while starting all but one contest.

Along with the Players to Watch List, the PAC released the results of its annual preseason coaches' poll. The defending champions from Geneva College were voted as favorites to repeat with a maximum of 10 first-place votes and 100 total points. Allegheny was picked 11th in the conference, but will look to return to form under first-year head coach Pat Sullivan.

The Gators will open the new season with a three-game road trip that begins on Friday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m. at Penn State Behrend.