ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Deniz Akbas (Ankara, Turkey/Juan Diego Catholic (Utah)) almost single-handedly led the Allegheny College men's basketball team back from a 20-point halftime deficit in a hard-fought 76-65 loss Friday at the University of Rochester.
Akbas scored a game-high 20 points in a little more than 15 minutes off the bench in the second half, providing a much-needed spark for the Gators (0-2) to threaten Rochester's (1-0) once comfortable lead. He buried six of his nine 3-point attempts – all within the last 12-plus minutes – as Allegheny came within six points of the Yellowjackets in the last 70 seconds of the contest.
Shortly after the 6-foot-4 sophomore forward checked in, the Yellowjackets drained a 3-pointer and took their largest lead of the night, 52-25. About two minutes later, senior guard
Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) struck the match that lit the fire under the Gators, turning a long rebound into a quick transition dunk. On Allegheny's next offensive possession, Akbas sank his first trey and cut the deficit down to 55-35. Midway through the half, Akbas made back-to-back 3-pointers as the Gators reduced URochester's 19-point lead to 59-46 in less than 40 seconds.
Allegheny was held without a point for the next three minutes, but Akbas broke the drought with a two-point play. Inside the final media timeout, Perry turned a steal into another slam dunk and followed up with an and-one less than a minute later. His successful free throw made it 67-56 with just over three minutes remaining.
Akbas made two more 3-point field goals in the last two minutes, the latter cutting Rochester's lead down to six points, 71-65. Alas, the Yellowjacket defense secured the victory by forcing turnovers on Allegheny's last two possessions.
Inside the Box Score
- Allegheny shot just 23.3% (7-of-30) in the first half, but the offense came to life in the second half, shooting 54.6% (18-of-33).
- The Gators made 8-of-16 (50.0%) 3-pointers in the second half and 12-of-30 (40.0%) on the night.
- Rochester finished the contest with 28 field goals on 58 attempts (48.3%).
- The Yellowjackets controlled the paint with a 45-to-28 lead in rebounds and an 8-to-0 advantage in blocks.
- Both teams earned 16 assists.
- Akbas paced the Gators with 20 points, including 18 from beyond the arc.
- Lincoln Brockmeyer (Akron, Ohio/Copley) made a trio of 3-pointers en route to 13 points.
- Perry (12) and Tanner Miller (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) (10) both scored double-digit points.
- Perry also recorded team highs in rebounds (7) and assists (6).
- Rochester received 19 points from M.J. Young, 17 from Justin Odibo, and 16 from Jordan Owusu.
News and Notes
- Allegheny and Rochester met for the first time since the Gators played in U of R's Holiday Inn Airport Invitational in 2011.
- The Gators are competing in Rochester's annual Chuck Resler Tournament for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
- Allegheny more than doubled its 3-point total from its season opener against No. 15 Roanoke College, converting 12 treys against the Yellowjackets compared to only five against the Maroons.
- Akbas, a transfer from Erie Community College, went off for 20 points on Friday night, more than double his previous career-high at the collegiate level.
- Miller netted a career-high 10 points in 29 minutes off the bench.
- Freshman wing Ryan Priester (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) scored his first collegiate points with a 3-point bucket in the first half.
Up Next
Allegheny will face a familiar foe, former North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Denison University, in the consolation round of the Chuck Resler Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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