BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Allegheny men's basketball team fell in a back-and-forth Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) battle on the road at Geneva, 83-80, Saturday (Dec. 6).
 
The Gators jumped out to a quick lead, starting the game on an 11-6 run. The Golden Tornadoes would pull within three points, 18-15, minutes later, but the Gators responded with a 10-0 run. The back-and-forth continued as Geneva scored the next 11 points to make it a two-point game with six minutes remaining in the half. In the final minutes of the half, the Gators led by as much as eight points, but a late basket cut their lead to 41-38 at the halftime break.
 
Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) had 13 first half points while Pijus Latauskas (Vilnius, Lithuania/Kiski Prep (Pa.)) had 11. 
 
Geneva started the second half on a 7-2 run to take the lead, 45-43. The teams continued to battle as a three by Lincoln Brockmeyer (Akron, Ohio/Copley) tied it at 54 with 12 minutes to play. Minutes later, the Golden Tornadoes rattled off a 7-0 run to gain a 65-61 advantage. 
 
Max Wallace (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) converted two sets of free-throws as the Gators made it a one-point game, 66-65. Geneva would once again string together a run, this time 7-2 as their lead extended to 75-69 with under five minutes to play. 
 
The Geneva lead reached 81-72 but back-to-back baskets by Latauskas and Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) brought it down to five points with under 90 seconds to go. Following a timeout, Latauskas hit a lay-up to bring it down to 81-78. 
 
After a Golden Tornado free-throw, Latauskas made another basket, assisted by James Sitter (Erie, Pa./Fairview), to make it a two-point game. Geneva made one-of-two free-throws on the ensuing possession. Lang grabbed the rebound as the Gators called timeout with 14 seconds left. As time expired, the Gators final shot hit off the rim as their comeback attempt fell just short. 
 
Inside the Box

• Latauskas led the team with a season-best 25 points while recording his first double-double with 10 rebounds. 
• Lang ended the game with 19 points and six rebounds.
• Brockmeyer also achieved a season-high with 13 points to go with five rebounds.
• Wallace was the third Gator with a season-best point total, tallying 10 points with two blocks.
• Perry had a team-high six assists.
• The Gators shot 45.3% (29-of-64) from the field.
• The game featured nine ties and nine lead changes. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny is now 55-45 all-time against Geneva.
• Latauskas has scored 10 or more points in the first six games to start his collegiate career. 

Up Next
The Gators are back in action at home next Saturday (Dec. 13) against Case Western Reserve.