HIRAM, Ohio — The Allegheny College Gators (7-10, 3-6 NCAC) rebounded from a close loss to top ranked Wittenberg on Saturday by jumping out to a 17-point first-half lead against Hiram College (3-15, 1-8 NCAC) before holding on for the 86-76 NCAC victory.

Casey" class="red" rel=nofollow>http://www.allegheny.edu/athletics/menbb/0506/images/mccloskey3.jpg">Casey McCloskey (Erie/Cathedral Prep) (pictured at right) scored a game-high 22 points while Matt Majzlik (Monaca/Hopewell) added 19 for the victory.

The Gators came out on fire, jumping out to a 17-point lead nine minutes into the game before the hosts opened a 21-4 run, tying the game at 30, and after knotting the score again at 32, the Gators ended the half on a 14-6 run, taking an eight point lead into the locker room.

Hiram closed to within six with two minutes left in the game, but a quick 8-0 run by the Gators put the game out of reach in the NCAC win.

Ryan Hollihan (Saxonburg/Knoch) and Jimmy Savage (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) (pictured below) added 12 and 10 points respectively, while Hollihan pulled down a team-leading six rebounds. McCloskey dished out seven assists, a team and game high, while Majzlik and Ben Torsney (Morgantown, W.Va.) each blocked two shots.

Hiram" class="red" rel=nofollow>http://www.allegheny.edu/athletics/menbb/0506/images/savage3.jpg">Hiram put five players in double figures, led by A.J. White’s 15 points, as he reached the 1,000-point plateau during the game.

The next game for the Blue and Gold is on Saturday, January 28 when the team travels to Gambier, Ohio with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m. in the middle of a three-game road trip for the Gators.

Boxscorehttp://www.allegheny.edu/athletics/menbb/0506/html/allm0125.htm">Boxscore >