Slow Starts Costs Pioneers on Senior Night

Morrisville used a 10-0 run early in the contest and never looked back as they defeated Alfred State 82-71 on Friday night. Morrisville ends the regular season with a 17-8 mark while the Pioneers are 15-9.

With a 7-5 lead three and a half minutes in, the Mustangs went on a 10-0 to grab a double digit lead. Alfred State trailed 36-27 at the break and cut the lead to nine with a dunk by Dante Jordan (New York/Law & Public) on their possession of the 2nd half but Morrisville built a 50-33 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. The blue & gold put pressure on the Mustangs but could never cut the lead to single digits.

Alexshay Pearce (Rochester/Charlotte) led the Pioneers with 18 points while Jordan finished with 17. Juwan Toliver (Buffalo/McKinley) finished with 11 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and four steals. Marcus Rhett (Middletown) came off the bench and chipped in nine.

The Pioneers shot 42.2% from the field for the game but shot only 18.2% from three, and 41.9% from the line.

Kevin Dennis led the Mustangs with 19 points and eight boards while Derek Beames came off the bench and scored 17. Trent Ward chipped in 12. Morrisville shot 48.1% from the field and was 25 for 27 from the line. On the boards they held a 45 to 32 advantage.

Prior to the game, the coaching staff honored a trio of seniors, Pearce, Tyler Elliott (Perry), and Robbie Adams (Jasper Troupsburg) playing in their final home game.

The Pioneers are right back on the court tomorrow when they battle at SUNY Canton at 4 p.m.