Hiram (2-12, 1-4) opened the game with a 5-0 run but the Gators responded with a 12-3 spurt to take a 15-10 lead. Allegheny (5-8, 2-3) led for much of the first half, behind 14 points from sophomore guard Casey McCloskey and 57 percent (17-30) shooting from the floor. But the Terriers matched the Gators shot for shot, hitting 62 percent (18-29) in the first 20 minutes and when Carlton Dean hit a lay-up with eight seconds to go in the half, Hiram carried a 43-41 lead into halftime.
Despite a big start to the second half by Majzlik, the Terriers were able to maintain their lead. The 6-5 forward scored 10 straight points during an early stretch of the second half but Hiram matched with three three-pointers before Dean took over. He had a spell of eight consecutive points and then his lay-up at the 7:44 mark gave the visitors their biggest lead of 79-71.
Hiram’s lead was 85-81 with 3:22 left before the Gators began a comeback. Babe drained a triple from the top of the circle and then Majzlik drilled a jumper to put AC ahead 86-85. The lead would change hands six times in the final two minutes. A jumper by Hiram’s DaJuan Whiteside with 1:09 remaining was answered by a Majzlik outside shot with 49 ticks left. Whiteside put the Terriers up 90-89 with a lay-up off his own miss with 19 seconds left. On the other end, McCloskey penetrated and dished off to Majzlik down low, who scored over a Hiram defender with 10 seconds to go to give the Gators a 92-91 lead. Following a Terrier timeout, Dean had a chance to win the game but his jumper with a second left was too strong, preserving the narrow Allegheny triumph.
Despite allowing Hiram to shoot 54 percent for the game and hold a 33-23 rebounding advantage, Allegheny pulled out the win by shooting 66 percent for the contest. In the second half alone, AC hit 19 of 25 shots from the field, including five of eight from the arc. The Gators also set season-bests in three-pointers hit (10) and accuracy (53 percent).
Majzlik highlighted a night full of offensive numbers, as he went 12 of 16 from the floor for a career-high 29 points. He also hauled in a team-high six boards, as did McCloskey, who added 23 points, seven assists and three steals to his stat line. Babe had a huge night as well, canning 24 points on 9-13 shooting, including 5-7 accuracy from three-point land. Freshman guard Justin Schmitt did not score a point but did tally six assists, three boards and two steals on the night.
Hiram was led by Dean, who nearly recorded a double-double with 29 points and nine boards. Whiteside finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Chuck Williams went 4-4 from the arc for 12 points and T.C. Spencer scored 10. Point guard A.J. White notched eight points, nine assists and six rebounds in the defeat.
Allegheny closes out a five-game home stand Saturday with a 3 p.m. contest against Ohio Wesleyan University in the second game of a doubleheader with the women’s team.
Hiram College vs Allegheny College 1/12/05 7:30 p.m. at Meadville, PA At Meadville, PA ALLEGHENY COLLEGE 92, HIRAM COLLEGE 91 HIRAM COLLEGE (2-12, 1-4 NCAC) Carlton Dean 13-26 3-3 29; DaJuan Whiteside 6-8 4-5 16; Chuck Williams 4-4 0-0 12; T.C. Spencer 5-7 0-0 10; Allen Kirkpatrick 3-6 1-2 9; A.J. White 3-10 0-0 8; Rick Baldwin 2-4 0-0 5; Leonard Wright 1-2 0-0 2; Michael McDevitt 0-1 0-0 0; Alan Lottinville 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-68 8-10 91. ALLEGHENY COLLEGE (5-8, 2-3 NCAC) Matt Majzlik 12-16 5-6 29; Bill Babe 9-13 1-3 24; Casey McCloskey 8-13 4-6 23; Brian Schulz 2-5 0-0 5; Quinn O'Brien 2-4 0-0 5; Alex Alper 2-2 0-0 4; Mike Sefscik 1-1 0-0 2; Justin Schmitt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-55 10-15 92. Hiram College................. 43 48 - 91 Allegheny College............. 41 51 - 92 3-point goals-Hiram College 9-16 (Chuck Williams 4-4; Allen Kirkpatrick 2-4; A.J. White 2-6; Rick Baldwin 1-1; Carlton Dean 0-1), Allegheny College 10-19 (Bill Babe 5-7; Casey McCloskey 3-5; Quinn O'Brien 1-3; Brian Schulz 1-4). Fouled out--Hiram College-None, Allegheny College-None. Rebounds-Hiram College 33 (DaJuan Whiteside 9; Carlton Dean 9), Allegheny College 23 (Casey McCloskey 6; Matt Majzlik 6). Assists-Hiram College 24 (A.J. White 9), Allegheny College 23 (Casey McCloskey 7). Total fouls-Hiram College 12, Allegheny College 11. A-250 Majzlik hits winning lay-up with ten seconds to play