MEADVILLE, Pa. – Four days after upending league rival Denison, Allegheny delivered another sensational team effort as the Gators orchestrated their most impressive win of the season with a 65-60 victory over upstart-Hiram. The Terriers entered the David V. Wise Center fresh off a victory over nationally-ranked No. 21 Wittenberg, but the Gators held Hiram 16 points below its season average en route to their second straight win.

There were only five lead changes in Wednesday's NCAC battle with Allegheny nursing a slim lead throughout a majority of the second half. The Gators largest advantage of the night was seven when a base-line jumper by Gabe Seidman gave the Blue and Gold a 45-38 lead with 12:10 left in regulation.

The Terriers stayed within striking distance, mostly behind the play of Jamaal Watkins and Aaron Stefanov, but Ryan Stanko triggered a second-half surge to keep Allegheny in front. Stanko scored all 13 of his points during a torrid three-minute stretch late in the second half, while the Gators coolly sank their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Watkins scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting in addition to a team-high eight rebounds. Stefanov added 17, although the rest of Hiram's starting contingent was held below its season average.

James Ness and Devone McLeod paced the Gators with 14 a piece, while Stanko's scintillating stint late in the game gave Allegheny three scorers in double figures. Sophomore Clark Tritto authored another terrific game. Finishing with four points on 2-of-4 shooting, Tritto added a game and career-high 12 boards, three assists, two blocks, and a pair of steals.

Allegheny enjoyed a second consecutive game with balanced production. Seidman and Kyle Murphy each added six to the Gators' totals while all nine players in the rotation scored. The team committed a season-low 12 turnovers, and turned what has been a negative during the tumultuous campaign into a positive result. Scoring 14 points off Hiram turnovers, Allegheny also dominated the offensive glass and finished with a 40-33 rebounding advantage.

Hiram led by as many as five in the first half, but the Gators pulled even as McLeod buried four shots from beyond the arc.