Box Score
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Henry Heeter scored the Allegheny men's basketball team's first nine points -- and finished with a career-high 19 in the game -- to lead the Gators over Kenyon, 68-53, in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday.
George Raftis added a double-double for Allegheny (11-9, 8-4), compiling 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Donte Briscoe had 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Peter Jones went 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, adding up to nine points, and Craig Devinney dished a season-high six assists.
While the Gators took an early 9-7 lead, it took them until the 14:04 mark before someone other than Heeter got on the board. Jones buried his first trey at this point, triggering a seven-point Allegheny run. Briscoe added a layup and then Jaicks made a layup to cap the stretch and give the hosts a 16-7 advantage.
The Gators slowly augmented their lead throughout the opening period, culminating in a three by Heeter which helped Allegheny grab the 30-15 it took into halftime.
The Blue and Gold's largest lead was 33-17 after Ratfis converted a layup and the ensuing free throw just 17 seconds into the first half.
Kenyon (5-15, 2-10) then began to make its run back into the game, outscoring the hosts 8-2 over the next stretch. Dave Knapke buried two three-pointers, trimming the deficit to 35-25 with 17:25 to go.
A 6-0 Lord run later in the half -- spurred by Anthony Chun's four points -- enabled the visitors to pull with seven points at 42-35 with 12:33 remaining.
After a Raftis layup and free throw, Kenyon's Marcus Healey put on a shooting clinic. He hit one trey to trim Allegheny's lead to 45-38 and another which made it 48-41, but the visitors struggled to pull closer.
Heeter sparked a quick five-point Gator run, hitting a three and then a layup, before Healey nailed another three to make the score 53-44. Healey's final trey, which came with 3:37 left in the game, brought Kenyon within six points at 55-49, but Allegheny then closed the game with a 13-4 stretch to seal the victory.
Raftis moved up to 10th place on Allegheny's all-time career scoring list. With 1,236 points, he moved past Eugene McIndoe (1,230 in 1949-53).
Knapke led Kenyon with a double-double. He had 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while Healey put in 16 points. A.J. Clair added 10 points for the visitors.
Allegheny will play its next game on Monday, when it hosts Penn State New Kensington. Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m.