Box Score
GAMBIER, Ohio – The scenario facing the Kenyon College men's basketball team Saturday was simple: defeat visiting Allegheny College to guarantee a home game in the quarterfinal round of next week's North Coast Athletic Conference tournament. The Lords seized the opportunity and dropped the Gators, 83-74, to earn their first postseason game at Tomsich Arena since the 2007-08 season.
By virtue of a 9-7 record against conference foes, Kenyon (15-10 overall) finished in a three-way tie for third place in the standings. After enacting the NCAC's tie-breaking procedures, the Lords emerged as the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will host Wabash College Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
The first five minutes of Saturday's action were closely contested before a pair of
Julian Pavlin free throws at the 15:09 mark kicked off a 20-7 spurt. The Lords' bench was crucial to 5:30 run with 13 points coming from reserve players.
Kenyon took a 42-35 lead into the locker room only to see Allegheny (6-16, 3-13 NCAC) come back to gain a 49-47 advantage 4:30 in to the second half. The Lords then looked to
Brian Lebowitz to regain control and he responded with seven-straight points to push Kenyon to a 56-51 lead.
The Lords wouldn't trail again, but did have to fight off one more surge from the Gators. Allegheny was back within two, 65-63, at the 6:00 mark before Kenyon ripped off a ten-point run. Pavlin provided seven of those points to help put the game away.
Lebowitz led all scorers with 21 points and added eight rebounds and three blocks to a busy afternoon. Pavlin finished with 18 points thanks to a perfect 9-of-9 showing at the charity stripe. He also dished out four assists and came up with a pair of steals. Sophomore
Dan Voigt scored a season-high 11 points to go along with seven caroms in 18 minutes off of the Lords' bench. Junior
Ikenna Nwadibia was the fourth Kenyon player in double digits with a ten-point, 11-rebound effort.
The Lords were also able to control the interior with sophomore
John Bray and freshman
Brien Comey each adding six points and six rebounds.
Kenyon's 15 victories this season are the most since the 2008-09 team won 16 games.
