Pioneers Continue to Roll

The Alfred State men's basketball team jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first five minutes of action and cruised to a 84-53 victory over Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday night. The blue & gold have now won the first three of a six game homestand and improve to 12-10 on the season.

The Pioneers shot 51.7% from the field in the 1st half and connected on four 3-pointers as they raced out to a twenty point advantage, 40-20. Tahaij Lewis (Rochester/Greece Olympia) led the way with 11 points and seven boards in the first 20 minutes while Ryan Gentile (Spencerport) and Owen Spencer (Perry) both had seven.

Alfred State scored the first 12 points of the 2nd half and never looked back. The Pioneers led by as many as 32 as they shot 62.1% and connected on five more 3-pointers. Lewis had another 10 points and six boards in the 2nd while Zack Mansfield (Cherry Creek/Pine Valley) was 3 for 3 and scored eight.

Lewis recorded another double-double with 21 points and 13 boards. Gentile added 13 points, Spencer contributed 10 points. and Josh Reding (Spencerport) finished with nine points and five assists. Mansfield had a career high eight while Donte Jones (Brooklyn/Brooklyn Collegiate) finished with seven. The Pioneers scored 44 points in the paint and 25 points came from the bench.

The Pioneers were 33 for 58 from the field for the game (56.9%), 9 for 21 from three (42.9%), and 9 for 11 from the foul line (81.8%). They also held a 40 to 24 advantage on the boards.

Jeffrey Fry and Dylan Mitchell led the Panthers (3-17) with 12 points each. They shot 34.5% from the field (20 for 58), 35.7% from three (10 for 28), and 37.5% from the foul line (3 for 8).

Alfred State aims to keep the winning streak alive on Saturday when they host SUNY Delhi. Opening tip-off from the Orvis Activities Center is scheduled for 4 p.m. Prior to the game the coaching staff will honor their senior class.