Greencastle, Ind. - Grant Niego and Camden Brown secured key defensive rebounds and combined to hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 18 seconds to help DePauw a 73-68 North Coast Athletic Conference win over visiting Allegheny. The Tigers improved to 9-10 overall and 6-7 in NCAC play, while the Gators dropped to 6-11 overall and 4-7 in conference play.

DePauw scored the game's first 10 points and held a 17-3 lead after Elijah Hales' layup with 14:22 left in the opening half. Allegheny scored the next eight to trim the Tigers' lead to six, but DePauw kept the lead in double digits most of the half and led, 40-30 at the intermission.

Allegheny was within eight at 48-40 before Hales hit two free throws and a 3-pointer and Cooper Mixon knocked in a pair of free throws to give DePauw its largest lead at 55-40. The Gators gradually chipped away at the Tigers' lead and were within four at 68-64 on a Brian Roberts, Jr., layup off a break. Brown knocked down a three at the 1:43 mark to push the DePauw lead to seven.

After Allegheny's Caden Hinckley made a pair of free throws with 1:33 remaining, the Tigers failed to convert on a pair of second-chance opportunities and Roberts, Jr. responded with a bucket with 34 seconds left to trim the DePauw lead to 71-68. The Tigers missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Allegheny missed on its next possession and Grant Niego rebounded and was fouled. Niego then hit one of two charity tosses to make it 72-68. Nolan Niego blocked Andre Wilder's three with eight seconds left and Brown grabbed the rebound and then hit both free throws to seal the win.

Hales led the Tigers with 19 points and a career-best four steals with Brown adding career highs of 13 points and five assists. Mixon and Nolan Niego each scored 11 in the win. Grant Niego had a team-high seven rebounds.

Wilder led Allegheny with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Roberts, Jr., followed with 16. Jordan Greynolds chipped in 13 and Hinckley added 12. Luke Barker handed out five assists in the loss.

DePauw shot 41.7 percent from the field to Allegheny's 42.9 percent and the Gators held a 37-32 rebounding advantage.

The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, February 9, when they host Wittenberg at 7 p.m.