MEADVILLE, Pa. – Cooper Handelsman's layup with 2:13 left in overtime gave Kenyon College (3-4, 2-2 NCAC) a lead it never relinquished as it dropped Allegheny College 75-72 Tuesday night in a North Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball game at the David V. Wise Center.

The layup came after Brien Comey corralled an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer, and dished to a driving Handeslman who finished along the left side.

Handelsman scored a career-high 24 points in the effort shooting 11-of-18 from the field while also grabbing five rebounds. John Bray had his best scoring output of the season totaling 17 points while Alexander Powell added 11 points including hitting three 3-pointers and grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Allegheny (5-4, 2-1 NCAC) was led by Brandon Smith who hit all 10 of his shots for 20 points. Evan Zabriski nearly totaled a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds while Josh Valentic added 15 points.

In a highly contested game, there were 10 ties and 11 lead changes.

The first half saw the Gators jump out to a quick 4-0 lead before the Lords fought back to tie the game at 10 after a three-pointer from the top of the key by Jonathan Amador with 12:29 left. Allegheny went back in front and led by as many as five points (32-27) before Kenyon closed the half strong.

Powell's three-pointer ignited a 10-2 run to close the final three minutes of the half which brought the score to 37-34 Lords at the break. Powell scored all 11 of his points in the opening half. Kenyon shot well from the field (50%) and from beyond the arc (45.5%).

In the second half, the battle continued. Each team had leads throughout but the Lords had to find a way to send the game to overtime.

Down by two with less than two minutes left, Tim Connolly hit a free throw and on the next possession Handelsman scored to give the Lords a slim 65-64 lead with 37 seconds left. A foul on the ensuing possession though allowed the Gators to go to the free throw line where Conor Macomber hit one to tie the game at 65.

In overtime, the Lords had a turnover and missed shot on their first two possessions, but that didn't faze them as Comey hit a jumper followed by a pair of makes from Handelsman to put the Lords ahead for good.

Kenyon shot 46.4% from the field and had a huge +9 rebounding advantage (44-35) against Allegheny. The Lords also scored 46 points in the paint compared to 34 for the Gators, and had a 20-8 second-chance points advantage.

The Lords will return to the hardwood when they host Albion College (3-2) December 12 at 7:30 p.m.