Savage scored a game-high 20 points for Allegheny (9-12, 5-8 North Coast Athletic Conference), hitting 5-of-8 three-point baskets, while Babe hit 4-of-9 shots from long range, who along with Ben Torsney (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown), scored 16 points.
Oberlin (4-18, 3-10 NCAC) reached the scoring column first in the game when Quinton Spencer hit a jump shot 17 seconds into the game, before the Gators scored the next 11 points, pushing ahead to an 11-2 advantage, which they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
The first half lead grew to as many as 11 points, at 24-13 with 9:09 to play in the opening period, before the hosts fought back, closing to within one on a Mike Loll free throw with 1:24 to play. Baskets by Babe and George Raftis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Sewickley Academy) sent the Gators into the locker room with a 39-34 halftime advantage.
A three-pointer by Oberlin’s Matt Godwin cut the five-point halftime deficit to two, before the Blue and Gold scored the next dozen points, re-establishing their double-figure lead, eventually pushing it to 20 on Savage’s fourth consecutive possession with a three-point basket. The hosts clawed their way back, using a stingy defense and poor free throw shooting (4-10 from the charity stripe over the final three minutes) for the Gators, eventually drawing to within five at the final buzzer.
Raftis chipped in nine points for the Gators, while he, Torsney and Ryan Hollihan (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) pulled down a team-high-tying six rebounds apiece. Point guard Larry Sharp (North Wales, Pa./Germantown Academy) dished out six assists for a game high, as Savage was not far behind with four helpers in the win.
Oberlin was led by Loll, who scored 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, while Jordan Beard and Spencer scored 16 and 11 points, respectively.
The Gators next game is back on the friendly home court of the David V. Wise Center, as they team plays host to Denison University in the second game of a women’s/men’s double header, both of which feature games against the Big Red. Women tip-off at 1:00 p.m. with the men following at 3:00 p.m. The game is also “Jam the Gym” day, with the mascot of NCAA basketball, J.J. Jumper, making an appearance.