MEADVILLE, Pa. (Nov. 13) - After facing a 16-point halftime deficit to host Allegheny, the Saint Vincent men's basketball team battled back in the second half, but the comeback fell just short, with the Gators prevailing 85-77. 

The Bearcats fall to 0-2 on the young season, while Allegheny improves to 2-0. 
 
The Bearcats kept it close for much of the first half, trailing by just three points, 28-25, with just over five minutes remaining until the break. The Gators would then go on a 21-8 run to close out the half and take a 49-33 lead.

Over the opening half, Allegheny shot 52.6 percent from the field, including a 9-for-16 showing from behind the arc. Conversely, Saint Vincent shot 42.8 percent from the floor, and 2-for-7 from distance.

The Gators would eventually up the lead to 18, 53-35, on their 10th three-pointer of the evening 45 seconds into the second half, but the Bearcats would then gradually chip away at the deficit.

A traditional three-point play by Osyon Jones trimmed the gap to 62-49 with 13 minutes left, before Dominic Jennings connected on a three-pointer with 11:15 to go to make it a 10-point game, 64-54. Anthony Dillard would then score five points in a 60-second span to pull the Bearcats to within single digits at 68-59, before two free throws from Jones and a bucket by Nelson Etuk made it 71-64 with 8:47 left.

The Bearcats kept the momentum, with Jennings hitting another triple with 8:23 left to cut the gap to four, 71-67, before an Etulk layup pulled SVC to within a bucket at 71-69 with 7:44 to go. Three minutes later, another Etuk layup would even the score at 74, before Jennings hit yet another trifecta go put the Bearcats in front 77-76 with 3:06 to go, the team's first lead since the 9:32 mark in the first half.

The Gators would regain a 78-77 lead with a pair of free throws, and the Bearcats were unable to counter, with Allegheny putting the game away at the foul line over the final 90 seconds.

Four SVC players scored in double digits in the contest.  Jennings led the way with a career-high 22 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the floor and 6-for-9 from three-point range. Etuk added 16 points while Jones had 13 and Anthony Dillard added 12 with eight rebounds for the Bearcats. The Bearcats shot 45 percent from the field in the game and scored 10 points off of Allegheny turnovers. SVC was dominant in the paint, outscoring the Gators, 40-26.
 
Brian Roberts Jr. led the Gators in the victory scoring 26 points in the game. Teammate Jordan Greynolds had a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
 
The Bearcats will return home on Monday, Nov. 15, to take on Carlow University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Robert S. Carey Student Center.