MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Geneva men's basketball program kept things close against Allegheny College in the first half, but ultimately fell as Gators pulled away in the second half for a 79-70 victory. Allegheny shot nearly 65% from the field in the second half, and the Golden Tornadoes didn't have the shots to match it. Geneva's record drops to 8-10 overall, 5-4 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play, while the Gators jump to 7-11 overall, also 5-4 in the PAC.

Both teams started hot from the tip as baskets were scored on the first four possessions of the game. Senior Nick Million stuck a mid-range jumper for Geneva's first bucket, and back-to-back three-pointers by senior Trey Barker on the GTs' next two possessions gave the men an 8-5 lead just 1:30 into the game. Geneva's offense went cold after that opening stretch, however, and they didn't score another field goal until over three minutes later when a driving layup by senior Jonathan Bertovich put them ahead 11-10.

Neither side could get more than a one-possession lead until the Gators' Ryan Lang scored to make it 19-15 in favor of Allegheny halfway through the period. That shot came as part of what ended up being an 11-2 stretch for the Gators, who surged ahead 26-17 as Geneva struggled to find the net. The GTs locked down defensively at that point, however, and went on a 9-1 run of their own over the next five minutes to pull within one point, thanks in large part to some excellent play by sophomore Tommy Coletti. The Gators converted a three-point play late in the half, taking a 30-26 lead into the break as a result.

Barker shot well to start the second half as well, sinking a three-pointer on the first possession of the frame. The Gators responded with points of their own, but a Million trey two minutes later pulled Geneva back within one point.

Unfortunately, that was as close as the GTs would get as they could not break through to regain the lead. Allegheny grew its lead over the next several minutes, going ahead by as many as 15 points, and the Gators wound up taking the win 79-70.

Coletti was the top scorer for the men in the loss, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Barker contributed 16 points, going 4-for-7 from three-point range, while Million chipped in with 12 points and six boards. Junior Ryan Edwards scored a career-high ten points off the bench, while Bertovich pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Allegheny shot 50.8% from the field, including 64% in the second half, compared to 41.7% from Geneva. Ryan Lang scored 20 points, while James Sitter recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

"I was really disappointed in our defensive effort tonight," said head coach Jeff Santarsiero. "I thought we could hang with them offensively, but allowing them to shoot 65% from the field in the second half is unacceptable. The guys have to figure it out quickly, because we've got one of the best attacking teams in the conference coming in on Saturday."

That attacking team is Saint Vincent College, whom the Golden Tornadoes will host this Saturday, January 31, at 3:30 p.m. Following the game, Santarsiero will be honored for his 30 years as head coach of the program.

Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).