Box Score
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Ian Franks scored 33 points, including go-ahead back-to-back free throws with 1:31 left in the game, to lead Wooster over the Allegheny men's basketball team, 69-68, in a North Coast Athletic Conference matchup at the David V. Wise Center. The Fighting Scots dashed the Gators' hopes of ending a 25-game losing streak against Wooster.
Allegheny (6-7, 3-2) led by as much as 12 when Devone McLeod put in a layup, making the score 45-33 with 15:51 left in the contest. At that point, a 13-2 run by the visitors helped them close the deficit to 47-46 with 12:43 left. Franks scored all 13 Wooster points during the charge.
The Gators actually increased their lead up to eight points, courtesy of McLeod, who made a layup and then buried a 3-pointer, making the score 59-51 with 5:46. The Scots (10-4, 5-0) then had one more run in them, scoring nine straight points -- five by Nathan Balch and four by Franks -- to take their first lead (60-59) since the first half with 3:47 on the clock.
Craig Devinney gave Allegheny its final lead with 2:04 left, converting a jumper and the ensuing free throw to forge a 64-63 lead, but then Franks followed with his tying and go-ahead free throws.
Down 65-64, the Gators fell victim to an unfortunate turnover when McLeod slipped on the floor and sent the ball rolling out of bounds with 10.6 seconds to go.
In the final 10 seconds, Franks and Matt Fegan made two freebies each for Wooster while Charlie Jaicks put in two for the Gators. With Allegheny down 69-66 and 2.2 left in the game, Jaicks missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Donte Briscoe made a layup before time expired before the Scots wasted the final two-tenths of a second.
The Gators came out firing in the first half, shooting 62.5 percent from the field (15 of 24). Four players contributed to a nine-point run -- James Ness made a layup, Peter Jones hit a three and Devinney and George Raftis added layups -- which put Allegheny ahead 26-17. A three by Devinney gave the Gators their largest first-half lead at 33-23. The hosts took a 37-28 advantage into intermission.
Raftis, who shot 8 of 10 from the field, finished the contest with a double-double, compiling 21 points and 11 rebounds. He moved into 15th on the Gators' all-time scoring list. Jaicks added 12 points while McLeod put in 11.
Balch chipped in 13 points, Bryan Wickliffe contributed 10 points and Justin Hallowell grabbed eight rebounds for Wooster.
Allegheny will be in action next on Saturday when it hosts Wittenberg for a 3 p.m. start.