MEADVILLE, Pa.  – Junior Ryan Stanko authored one of the best performances in the history of the David V. Wise Center as Allegheny outlasted Thiel in double-overtime, 86-75, Wednesday evening. The Gators weathered a furious rally by the visiting Tomcats with an impressive display in the second bonus session to move above .500 heading into the winter break for the first time in five seasons.

Stanko was sensational from the opening tip, hauling down a number of defensive rebounds while fueling the Allegheny attack both in the paint and from the outside. He finished the tilt with a career-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, and 10 rebounds. Stanko's effort marked the first 30-point game by an Allegheny player since the 2010-11 regular-season finale, and finished four points shy of the arena record set by Matt Magnuson on January 10, 2004. The performance also marked the first time that a player has scored at least 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the same game at the David V. Wise Center.

Leading by as many as 17 points in the first half, Thiel (6-2) used its outstanding quickness to climb back into contention. The Tomcats scored 25 points off Allegheny turnovers and finished the game 22-of-25 (88%) from the free-throw line.  Thirty percent of Thiel's offense came at the charity stripe, while the Gators' non-league foe also boasted a 14-0 advantage on fast-break points.

Fortunately, Allegheny turned in an outstanding shooting performance as it shot 58% (33-of-57) from the floor, including a season-best 50% (9-of-18) from beyond the arc. The Gators were nearly flawless during the second overtime, outscoring the Tomcats, 15-4. The Blue and Gold sank all four of its shots during the decisive five minutes, while holding Thiel to just 2-of-8.

Numerous Allegheny players stepped up in the game's most critical moments, but it was senior guard Devone McLeod who delivered the back-breaker midway through the final frame. McLeod's play-making ability was neutralized for most of the night, but with the Gators leading 76-73 and 2:29 on the clock in double overtime, the team's leading scorer drilled a three from the left wing. On the ensuing possession, Stanko added the knock-out blow with a triple from the opposite side. Marco Corona, who was forced into extra minutes because of foul trouble, converted a great pass from Tritto on the opening possession of double OT, and the Gators never looked back.

Thiel's Chase McKinney scored on a jumper in the paint with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 66-66, while McLeod's driving runner fell short at the buzzer. McLeod sank a key three midway through the first overtime, but a three-point play by Anthony Harvey with two minutes left proved to be the last points for either team in the period.

McLeod finished with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Corona added a career-best nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in addition to a career-high six rebounds. He also had three assists. Clark Tritto, who is the reigning Allegheny Athlete of the Week, totaled seven points, six rebounds, and four assists. And while he finished with just six points on 3-of-4 shooting, Gabe Seidman was credited with a career-high five steals.

Nine Allegheny players scored at least three points, including sophomore transfer Josh Valentic, who scored six points in his first action since the second game of the season. Twenty seconds after entering the game for the first time, Valentic canned a three to give the Gators a 41-36 lead with 15:46 left in the second half.