MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny College men's basketball team kicked off 2025 with a bang on Saturday afternoon, knocking off Washington and Jefferson College by an 87-81 final score at the James H. Mullen Jr. Arena inside the David V. Wise Center.

Despite the sub-freezing temperatures outside, the Gators (4-8, 2-5 PAC) put together one of their hottest performances in the first game of the new year. Allegheny, which led nearly the entire contest, posted season-highs with a 56.6 field-goal percentage (30-of-53) and a 61.1 3-point field-goal percentage (11-of-18). But although the Gators led by as many as 20 points in the first half, they had to fend off a W&J (9-4, 5-3 PAC) that defeated nationally-ranked Carnegie Mellon University before the holiday break.

Leading 36-30 with approximately five minutes left in the first half, the Blue and Gold rattled off 14 unanswered points over the next four minutes. The scoring outburst included a key sequence that saw the officials nullify a 3-pointer from the Presidents due to a shot clock violation, while on the other end of the court, the replay monitor confirmed goaltending on a fast-break attempt by Ryan Lang (Sarver, Pa./Knoch). Luke Barker (New Castle, Pa./Struthers (Ohio)) ended the scoring streak with a trey that put the Gators ahead by 20 at 50-30.

After trailing 50-36 at the intermission, Washington and Jefferson battled back and made things interesting. The Presidents opened the second half with 11 of the first 16 points, cutting the deficit to eight at 55-47. W&J employed a full-court press throughout the half, forcing numerous turnovers that helped the Presidents even the score at 60-all before snagging a brief 65-62 advantage.

The Presidents last led 68-67 with nearly seven minutes remaining. The Gators scored the following eight points, highlighted by a Barker and-one. After the free throw put Allegheny up 73-68, Jayson Perry (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) blocked a layup attempt by W&J's Cameron Rowell, one of several key defensive plays down the stretch. Inside the final two minutes, Perry added an exclamation point by intercepting a pass from Michael Plasko, racing down the floor, and slamming the ball into the hoop to jump ahead 81-77.

From there, the Gators made six of their last eight free throw attempts to keep the game out of Washington and Jefferson's reach.

Inside the Box Score

• Despite the close finish, Allegheny led for over 35 minutes against Washington and Jefferson.
• The Gators finished 30-of-53 (56.5%) from the field and 11-of-18 (61.1%) from beyond the arc.
• On the other hand, the Presidents were 31-of-64 (48.4%) overall and only 7-of-26 (26.9%) from 3-point range.
• Allegheny held a slight edge in rebounds, 32-to-31, while both teams earned 10 steals.
• The Presidents had more assists, 17-to-14, and blocks, 3-to-2.
• W&J was efficient in transition, with game highs in points off turnovers (26) and fast breaks (11).
• Barker and Lang led the Allegheny offense with 27 and 22 points, respectively.
• Lang was a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and the foul line.
• James Sitter (Erie, Pa./Fairview) added 13 points, followed by Perry with nine.
• Sitter earned a team-high four steals, while Perry handed out a team-leading four assists.
• Isaiah Portis (Medina, Ohio/Norwayne) led all players with a game-high 11 rebounds.
• Four Presidents scored double-digit points, led by Plasko, who netted 20 off the bench.
• Nathan Plotner added 17 points, seven rebounds, six steals, and four assists for W&J.

News and Notes

• Allegheny earned its second Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory and its season home win of the season on Saturday.
• The Gators have won three of their last four games against the Presidents inside the Wise Center.
• Allegheny's field goal percentage and 3-point conversion rate are both single-game season highs.
• Barker's 27 points were tied for the second-most scored in a game by the senior guard this winter.
• Lang, who reached double-digit points in eight games so far this season, set a new season-best with 22 points.
• In the fifth game of his freshman campaign, Paulo Cesar (Brasília, Brazil/DME Academy (Fla.)) scored his first five collegiate points with two rebounds and one assist.

Up Next
On Wednesday, January 8, the Gators will travel to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, for an 8:00 p.m. PAC showdown against Westminster College.