Pioneers Down Franciscan in Overtime

The Alfred State men's basketball team outscored Franciscan 19 to 9 in the extra session as the Pioneers earned their second straight and their sixth win of the season with a 81-71 victory. 

Franciscan led 29-28 after a back and forth 1st half. The Pioneers came out of halftime and grabbed back the lead and built a 55-42 advantage with 7:15 remaining in the contest. The Barons went on a run and capped their 20 to 5 run with a three-pointer in the final seconds by Keoni Sablan to send the contest into overtime knotted up at 62-62.

In the extra frame, Alfred State grabbed the lead and never looked back. The Pioneers were 13 for 14 from the foul line in the extra session.

Justin Wallace (Mt. St. Michael) led the Pioneers with 20 points. He was 11 for 14 from the foul line including 9 for 10 in the overtime session. Adam Fezza (Southampton) added 14 points, Dante Jordan (New York/Law & Public Service) finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Marquis Edwards (Queens/In-Tech Academy) chipped in 13.

The Pioneers were 24 for 74 from the field, 8 for 17 from behind the three-point arc, and 25 for 41 from the foul line. They forced the Barons into 22 turnovers while only committing seven turnovers of their own.

Sablan led the Barons with 23 points while Christian Duke added 13. Jacob Divens finished with 11 points and John Paul Dombrowski added seven points and 16 rebounds.

The contest featured five ties and nine lead changes.

The Pioneers return to the Orvis Activities Center on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off vs. SUNY Delhi.