WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Allegheny men's basketball team rallied in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit, defeating Waynesburg 70-59 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play Saturday (Dec. 7).
The Yellowjackets jumped out to an 11-5 lead early in the game. Allegheny then went on a short 6-2 run to pull within two points, 13-11. Waynesburg put together a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 22-13 with just under six minutes to play in the half.
In the final stretch of the opening half, the teams went back-and-forth with each side scoring 11 points as the Gators entered the half trailing 33-24.
The Gators opened the second half on a 10-2 run to cut the Yellowjacket lead to 35-34. After Waynesburg went on a run to increase their lead back to 47-40, back-to-back threes by
James Sitter (Erie, Pa./Fairview) and
Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) once again pulled the Gators within a point. Barker followed up his three pointer with a driving layup which gave the Gators their first lead since early in the opening half.
Waynesburg converted a traditional three point play to regain the lead before another three by Barker jump-started an 11-3 run which saw the Gators take a 59-53 lead. Sitter had six points in that run.
Down the stretch, the Gators were tested at the free-throw line, but converted 13-of-14 attempts as they completed the comeback for their first PAC win of the season.
Inside the Box
- Barker led the team with a season-best 33 points on 10-of-16 shooting (62.5%). He also had five rebounds and a pair of steals.
- Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) finished with 14 points and three rebounds.
- Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) was the third Gator to score in double-digits, netting 11 points alongside a career-high nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- Sitter finished with seven points.
- Isaiah Portis (Medina, Ohio/Norwayne) had four points with seven rebounds.
- The Gators shot 43.8% (21-48) from the floor with eight three pointers.
- Allegheny converted 20-of-24 free-throws (83.3%).
News and Notes
- The Gators are now 13-4 all-time against Waynesburg.
Up Next
The Gators are back at home next Saturday (Dec. 14) against Franciscan.