MEADVILLE, PA -- The La Roche men's basketball team concluded their difficult non-conference schedule with a 72-63 victory at Allegheny on Thursday night. The Redhawks have won four straight against NCAC competition and improve to 6-5 on the season.
The Redhawks announced their presence in the paint early and often. Arnes Bajgora, RayQuan Phifer and Darius Lawrence all provided layups over the first two minutes to build an 8-4 lead.
Allegheny recovered and tied it at 12-12 but La Roche used the paint to break things open. The Redhawks scored ten unanswered points all of which came in the paint. A Ryan Norkus three-point play capped the run and a 22-12 lead.
The Gators got the deficit down to eight at 26-18 but Norkus hit an open three and a jumper to put the Redhawks ahead by fifteen. Allegheny closed the half on a 5-0 run but the Redhawks entered intermission with a 33-23 lead.
Norkus was excellent scoring 15 points (6 of 7 FG) and pulling down 5 rebounds.
Bajgora and Zach Gould both drained threes early in the second half for a 45-27 lead. It looked like the Redhawks were about to run away with it but Allegheny made it interesting on their home floor.
The Gators cut the deficit from 17 points at the 12:15 mark to 7 points at the 8:44 mark. Phifer came up big converting a three-point play but Allegheny brought it down to 6 points with 3:40 left to play.
The Redhawks went back inside the paint for the answer. Lawrence, Bajgora and Gould hit three straight layups for a double digit lead. La Roche struggled from the free throw line which allowed Allegheny to linger around. The Redhawks were able to hold on and entered winter break on a win-streak.
Norkus finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Bajgora was just a rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and 9 rebounds while Dion Etheridge brought down 10 boards. Gould had 13 points and Phifer 11 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 6 assists.
The Redhawks pulled down 50 rebounds. They shot 40% for the game to Allegheny's 36%.
La Roche is off until the new year. The Redhawks will return to action on January 3, 2018 when they host Mt. Aloysius.