Spartans Outlast Pioneers in Wild Double OT affair

Spartans Outlast Pioneers in Wild Double OT affair

Alfred State and D'Youville went back and forth all afternoon in a early season battle on day two of the Special Tees Tip-off Tournament. After 50 minutes of action, the Spartans earned the 114-105 double overtime victory. The game featured 17 ties and 19 lead changes.

Alfred State led 47-45 at the half and led 69-62 with 7:39 remaining in the contest before D'Youville made a run to tie at 75-75 with just under five minutes left. The Spartans led 89-86 in the final seconds when Alexshay Pearce (Rochester/Charlotte) was fouled shooting a three with 4.3 seconds left. He hit all three foul shots to tie it up. D'Youville turned the ball over and the Pioneers were unable to get a shot off before the horn rang forcing overtime.

In the 1st OT, Marcus Rhett (Middletown) tied the game at 98-98 with 39 seconds left with a lay-up. Both teams came up empty on their next possessions. With under seven seconds left, D'Youville turned the ball over in the backcourt and the Pioneers had two chances to win the game but neither would drop in and the game headed to a second extra frame.

Pearce hit a three-pointer with 2:37 remaining in the 2nd overtime session to give the Pioneers a 105-104 lead but D'Youville ended the game on a 10-0 run to earn the victory.

Pearce led the Pioneers for the second straight night in the scoring column. He finished with 33 points (12 for 13 from the foul line) and eight rebounds. Tahaij Lewis (Rochester/Greece Olympia) was big off the bench finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Rhett had 15 points and 10 boards, and Juwan Toliver (Buffalo/McKinley) finished with 12 points and nine assists. 

Simeon Heard led D'Youville with 35 points while Jeremy Vanduluit finished with 18.

The Pioneers are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Baldwin Wallace for a 5 p.m. tip-off.The Spartans shot were 40 for 84 from the field, 10 for 32 from three, and was 24 for 36 from the foul line. The Pioneers were 31 for 91 from the field, 5 for 21 from three, and 38 for 48 from the foul line. Alfred State held a 61 to 57 advantage on the boards.