GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny men's basketball team won their third straight game Wednesday (Nov. 29), defeating Thiel 71-65 in overtime on the road in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.
 
The Tomcats got out of the gates fast, starting the game on a 7-0 run. A 5-0 Andre Wilder (Beaver Falls, Pa./Lincoln Park) run would bring the score to 10-8 shortly after. Thiel pushed their lead back up to seven, 20-13, before the Gators cut the advantage down to four, 26-22, at the half.
 
After the Thiel lead grew to nine points, the Gators answered with 11 straight points, tying the game at 39. Wilder scored six of the 11 points of that stretch. The teams exchanged baskets before a three by Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) gave the Gators their first lead of the evening, 44-41.
 
The game continued its back-and-forth play as the teams continued to trade the lead back and forth in the ensuing minutes.
 
Tied at 54 apiece with under three minutes to play, Wilder scored his 20th point of the contest, giving the Gators a two point lead. The score stayed that way until the final thirty seconds as Thiel tied it on a jumper. The Gators called a timeout with eight seconds left, however, they were unable to convert the opportunity as the game went into overtime.
 
Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) opened the extra session with a quick three pointer. After a Barker steal on the other side of the court, James Sitter (Erie, Pa./Fairview) hit a mid-range jumper, pushing their lead to five. 
 
The Tomcats would come within one point, 64-63, with 90 seconds to play. Sitter hit a three pointer with just over a minute left, his eighth point of the extra frame. The Tomcats once again brought the game within a score, 67-65, but a late Wilder basket followed by a pair of free-throws by Barker sealed the conference victory for the Gators.
 
Inside the Box

• Wilder finished the game with 22 points and season-high 16 rebounds to lead the team in both categories. He also had two steals and a block.
• Preston Turk (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) was second on the team with 14 points alongside five rebounds and two steals.
• Barker was the third Gator in double-figures with 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists.
• Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) and Sitter scored eight points apiece. All of Sitter's points came in overtime.
• Perry finished with six points.
• Zion Barksdale (Meadville, Pa./Cathedral Prep) blocked three shots for the second straight game.

News and Notes

• The Gators improved to 2-1 in PAC play.
• All-time, Allegheny is now 99-43 against Thiel. 

Up Next
The Gators remain on the road Saturday (Dec. 2) to face Geneva at 3 pm.