MEADVILLE, Pa. – For the second consecutive game, Allegheny pieced together a solid second half in which it thoroughly outplayed its opponent. Unfortunately, the Gators also endured a poor start for the second time in as many outings as Case Western Reserve authored a 73-57 victory at the David V. Wise Center Wednesday night.

Consecutive three-point field goals by freshman David DiBernardi whittled what was once a 26-point deficit down to 12 with six minutes left in regulation. Trailing 65-53, the Gators had several chances to slice even further into the Spartans' lead, but couldn't convert before Case Western Reserve pushed the advantage back into the teens.

Allegheny was forced to weather a horrendous start at both ends of the floor. Opening the game 3-for-24 from the floor, the Gators went into the locker room at halftime shooting 16.7% (6-of-36). And while the Blue and Gold was entrenched in one of its worst shooting efforts in team history, the Spartans were shooting above 60% from the field until a series of late misses toward the end of the period.

Down 39-15 at the break, the Gators once again flashed their competitive spirit, even if Wednesday's hole was too deep to claw out of. Allegheny, which was 0-of-14 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes, jumped back into contention as DiBernardi, D'Andre Corbin, and Ryan Stanko heated up from the outside. The Gators were 7-of-14 from distance in the second frame, and outscored the Spartans, 42-34.

Corbin delivered one of his better games of the season while authoring his first double-double. Scoring 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep, he added three steals and a game-best 10 assists. Senior James Ness also recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points and hauling down 13 rebounds. Stanko added 11 points, all in the second half, while DiBernardi finished with eight on 3-of-4 shooting.

Case had three players finish in double figures led by Austin Fowler's 16. David Thompson assembled a double-double of his own with 12 points and 13 boards to lead a front line that towered over the Gators' interior defense.

The journey toward a spot in the NCAC postseason was expected to be less-than-smooth given the Gators' inexperience, although the non-league slate has been remarkably tough. Four of Allegheny's first eight opponents are either ranked or receiving votes in the latest national polls while Allegheny lost in the championship of its own tournament to NAIA/DII Point Park. The Gators entered tonight's game with a 2-1 record in games against non-ranked Division III teams.