GAMBIER, Ohio – Despite orchestrating a second-half rally that put Allegheny in position to win its regular-season finale, Kenyon manufactured a 20-11 run over the last six minutes of regulation to hold off the Gators, 83-74, on Saturday at Tomsich Arena.
Kenyon enjoyed a torrid start from the floor, knocking down 13 of its first 18 shots (72.2%), while going up by as many as 12 midway through the opening frame. The Lords cooled down the stretch, but a significant edge on the glass helped propel the team to a 42-35 halftime lead.
Allegheny emerged from the break with a promising surge, and an 11-4 run through the first four minutes of the period knotted the score at 46-46. While Kenyon sank a free throw on its next possession, Ryan Stanko drilled a three on the Gators' ensuing opportunity as Allegheny grabbed its first lead of the game at 49-47 with 15:36 left to play.
Despite the push, the Lords quickly reclaimed the lead, although the game remained tight until the final six minutes. After a lay-up by senior Devone McLeod pulled the Gators to within a pair (65-63), Kenyon responded by ripping off 10 straight points while holding the Blue and Gold without a field goal for nearly four minutes. The Lords, who finished 25-of-36 from the charity stripe, closed out the tilt by sinking five straight free throws in the final minute to salt away the victory.
Stanko, who paced Allegheny with 10 first-half points, finished with a team-high 19 in addition to nine rebounds. McLeod scored 15 points in his final collegiate game, while sophomore Brandon Smith just recording his career double-double after closing with nine points and nine boards.
McLeod, who averaged a team-best 17.0 points per game this season, closed his career with 1,269 points, 341 assists, and 97 steals. Guard Jim Wheeler '80 is the only player in program history to score more points than McLeod while also amassing more assists. McLeod finishes his Allegheny career ranking ninth in career points, seventh in assists, and fifth in three-point field goals made (154) and attempted (465).
Senior guard Kyle Murphy also appeared in his final game donning the Blue and Gold. Murphy had one assist and one rebound in eight minutes of work, while closing out his career with 142 career points.