Men's Basketball Earns #4 Seed for ACAA Tournament
The Alfred State men's basketball team will be the #4 seed for the 2019 American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Tournament. The Pioneers will look to defend their home court as the tournament will be held in the Orvis Activities Center on February 23-24.
Alfred State is currently 11-10 on the season and will battle #1 Thomas More (14-7) in the first semifinal on Saturday evening. Opening tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. #2 SUNY Delhi (12-9) will take on #3 Pine Manor (7-14) in the other semifinal. The winners of the two semifinals meet on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Alfred State has used a balanced attack all season. The senior trio of Tahaij Lewis (Rochester/Greece Olympia), Juwan Toliver (Buffalo/McKinley), and Dante Jordan (New York/Law & Public) have led the team in scoring. Lewis leads the team with 15.7 points per game and 9.9 rebounds, Toliver is averaging 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Jordan is averaging 10 points and 6.3 rebounds.
A quartet of young guards have also been key. Sophomore Owen Spencer (Perry) is averaging 9.5 points per game and leads the team with 89 assists, Josh Reding (Spencerport) has connected on 44 three-pointers and is averaging 8.9 per game, Kevin Goode (Rochester/Bishop Kearney) is averaging 8.7 per game, and second semester newcomer Ryan Gentile (Spencerport) is averaging 7.6 points in his 11 games wearing the blue and gold.
Thus far in the regular season, Alfred State has only competed versus SUNY Delhi. The Broncos took the opening contest with the Pioneers 77-68 in Delhi but the two teams square off again in Alfred on Saturday (2/9).
The Pioneers were the #1 seed in last year's ACAA Tournament but never could get the offense going in the semifinals and fell to Pine Manor.
Seeding for the ACAA Tournament is based on the Massey Ratings - https://www.masseyratings.com/cb2019/american-caa/ratings
ACAA Tournament Schedule - All Games Hosted at Alfred State
Saturday, February 23rd
Noon: Women's Semifinal #1 - #4 Alfred State vs. #1 Thomas More
2 p.m.: Women's Semifinal #2 - #3 Valley Forge vs. #2 Finlandia
5 p.m.: Men's Semifinal #1 - #4 Alfred State vs. #1 Thomas More
7 p.m.: Men's Semifinal #2 - #3 Pine Manor vs. #2 SUNY Delhi
Sunday, February 24th
Noon: Women's Final
2:30 p.m.: Men's Final