Pioneers Close Out Season in ACAA Semis

The Alfred State men's basketball team capped their season with a tight battle with SUNY Canton in the ACAA Semifinals. The Roos rallied for the 69-65 victory to advance to the ACAA Finals vs. Pine Manor.

The blue & gold broke a 17-17 deadlock when they went on a 18 to 5 run to end the 1st half. They scored the first six points of the 2nd half and led by 19, 41-22, with just under 18 minutes left in the game. The Roos chipped away over the next 13 minutes and tied the game at 60-60 with 4:55 remaining.

Canton broke a 63-63 tie with a pair of lay-ups. Tyrone Davis (Brooklyn/Benjamin Banneker) made it 67-65 with 55 seconds remaining but the Pioneers couldn't capitalize on a chance with eight seconds remaining to tie the game. Walt Jeter hit two foul shots with three seconds to ice the contest.

Marcus Rhett (Middletown) led the Pioneers with 13 points while Davis added 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Marquis Edwards (Queens/In Tech Academy) came off the bench and had 11. Justin Wallace (Mt. Vernon/Mt. St. Michael) and Juwan Toliver (Buffalo/McKinley) both finished with eight.

The Pioneers shot 43.1% for the game, connected on 5 of their 19 three-point attempts, and struggled from the foul line (4 for 10). 

Romario Fletcher led Canton with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Sam Annorh finished with 19 points and 10 assists. Rashad Richardson came off the bench and had 13 and Adrian Williams chipped in 10. The Roos shot 44.3% from the field, 34.6% from three, and 60% from the foul line.

The Pioneers and Roos battle three times this season with all three games decided by four points or less.

The Pioneers finish the season with a 9-17 record. Twelve of their games were decided by six points or less.