MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Allegheny College gave second-place Saint Vincent College a run for its money, but the Bearcats held on for a 79-74 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) win in men's basketball action on Wednesday.

Against the team seeded No. 2 in the upcoming PAC Championship Tournament, the Gators (4-15, 6-18 PAC) gave the home faithful inside the James H. Mullen Jr. Arena plenty to cheer for in the 2023-24 home finale. However, a well-balanced attack and a first-half lead wasn't enough to down the Bearcats (21-3, 16-3 PAC).

The first half was a classic back-and-forth tilt, as neither side was able to establish a significant lead for the first nine-plus minutes. The score was tied numerous times, but after the Bearcats brought the game to a 21-all tie, the Gators jumped ahead. James Sitter (Erie, Pa./Fairview) sank consecutive 3-pointers, and after Osyon Jones made one of two foul shots, Preston Turk (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) drove through the lane for a left-handed finish off the glass. Turk's bucket gave Allegheny its largest lead of the night at 29-22.

The Gators clung to a five-point advantage until the last seven minutes of the opening half. Allegheny went more than four minutes without a point, while Saint Vincent pieced together a 9-0 run. At halftime, the Bearcats led 39-36 and extended the lead to as many as 10 points in the second half.

Down 65-56, the Gators responded with nine unanswered points of their own. Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) capped off the run with a deep 3-pointer. After advancing the ball beyond the timeline, Barker stepped behind a screen from Andre Wilder (Beaver Falls, Pa./Lincoln Park) and found nothing but net from nearly 25 feet. The clutch trey evened the score at 65-65 with four minutes to play.

The Gators were unable to capitalize on the momentum, however. Saint Vincent scored the following six points, and inside the last 15 seconds, the Bearcats made all four of their foul shots to preserve the lead.

Inside the Box Score

• The Gators had better numbers in multiple categories despite the loss.
• Allegheny finished 49.2% (30-of-61) from the field, while Saint Vincent shot 47.7% (31-of-65).
• Allegheny was more efficient from 3-point range as well, making 6-of-16 (37.5%) of its attempts from beyond the arc; Saint Vincent was 3-of-13 (23.1%).
• The Gators had more assists (15-to-7) and more steals (8-to-6).
• The biggest difference came crashing the glass, as the Bearcats hauled in 41 rebounds, and the Gators had only 27.
• All nine players who checked into the game scored at least five points for the Gators.
• Sitter and Barker led the way with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
• Barker also had a team-high five assists and three steals.
• Wilder, Isaiah Portis (Medina, Ohio/Norwayne), Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch), Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles), and Zion Barksdale (Meadville, Pa./Cathedral Prep) each scored eight points.
• Jones paced all scorers with 22 points, one of four Bearcats with double digits.

News and Notes

• Allegheny's 49.2 field-goal percentage marks its sixth-best of the season and the team's best since shooting 50.7% against Washington and Jefferson College on January 13.
• Barker reached double figures for the 19th time this season.
• Sitter logged double-digit points for the seventh time in his first season with the Gators.

Up Next
Allegheny heads to Washington and Jefferson College for the regular-season finale on Saturday, February 17. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.