Box Score
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- George Raftis scored 24 points while Donte Briscoe put in a career-high 20, leading the Allegheny men's basketball team to a season-opening 100-77 win over Westminster on the first night of the Buzz Ridl Classic.
The last time Allegheny scored over 100 points was on Nov. 24, 2007, when the Gators defeated Penn State Dubois, 103-58, at the David V. Wise Center.
On Friday, Raftis grabbed seven rebounds while Briscoe pieced together a strong all-around game, finishing with four assists, four steals and two blocks. Briscoe went 10 of 12 from the field for the Gators (1-0), who made 58 percent of their shots from the field (40 of 69) and 92.9 percent from the free throw line (13 of 14).
Allegheny dominated the first half and took a 58-33 lead into the locker room. Briscoe scored four points during a 10-point Allegheny run, which saw a lead increase to 20-6. Later in the period, James Ness poured in seven consecutive points, helping the visitors to a 29-9 lead.
The Gators' largest lead of the game was 29 points, when freshman Devone McLeod made a layup with 58 seconds remaining in the first half, making the score 56-27.
Ness finished the game with 12 points and nine rebounds and Charlie Jaicks contributed 13 points and four assists. Also, McLeod had nine points and seven assists. Craig Devinney made three steals.
Westminster (0-2) was led by Max Spinner, who scored 25 points. Anthony DeFelice added 15 points, Rob Briggs put in 13 and Adam Carswell had 12.
Carswell made a jumper with 14:46 left in the contest, bringing the Titans with 12 points of Allegheny at 62-50, but it was as close as the hosts would get for the rest of the contest.
The Gators will return to action at the Buzz Ridl Classic on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they battle Emory and Henry.