GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team was defeated, 79-67, by the Allegheny Gators in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game Saturday afternoon.
 
Prior to the game, the Tomcats celebrated the seniors of the basketball team: guard Beni Lavodrama (Washington, D.C./Phelps ACE) and team manager Jenna McCandless.
 
The Tomcats had a one-point lead halfway through the first half. After Allegheny tied the game at 27, the Gators ripped off a 15-0 scoring run to take control of the game. The Tomcats cut into the deficit but trailed 47-39 heading into halftime. 
 
The second half started with both teams trading baskets. A jumper from Elijah Harden (Sharon, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) just over five minutes into the second half cut the Tomcats deficit to four. But the Gators went on another run, scoring six straight. 
 
Allegheny led 68-61 with 6:50 remaining in the game, and all but closed out the game with a 7-0 run to grab a 14-point lead.
 
Thiel's Rayshod Hooper (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances Academy) tallied a team-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds. Marlon Ellerbee (Temple Hills, Md./Oxon Hill) and Harden each notched 15 points, with Ellerbee recording a game-high six assists. Lavodrama tallied a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with a game-high four steals.
 
Allegheny was led by Luke Barker who tallied a game-high 24 points. Caden Hinckley tallied a double-double with 15 points and 16 boards.
 
The Tomcats return to the hardwood on Wednesday when they travel to Franciscan for a PAC matchup. The conference game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.