Pioneers Close Out 2018 with Victory over Keystone

The Alfred State men's basketball team closed out 2018 with a 78-62 victory over Keystone in the consolation game of the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa Tournament hosted by St. John Fisher. The blue & gold led throughout the contest and finish 2018 with a 7-5 record.

The Pioneers jumped out a 7-0 lead as the senior trio of Dante Jordan (New York/Law & Public), Tahaij Lewis (Rochester/Greece Olympia), and Juwan Toliver (Buffalo/McKinley) scored in the first 78 seconds of the game. The blue & gold continued to push the lead out and led by as many as 25 with 3:26 remaining in the 1st half. Keystone cut into the lead a bit and trailed by 20, 43-23, at the half.

The Giants held Alfred State scoreless for the first 6:24 of the 2nd half and cut to deficit to 43-36. Keystone continued to put the pressure on and trailed only by six, 55-49, with just over five minutes remaining in the contest but the Pioneers responded with a 9-0 run to seal the victory.

Jordan led four Pioneers in double figures with 18 points. He was 7 for 11 from the field and 3 for 3 from the foul line. Lewis and Toliver both finished with 13 points. Toliver also chipped in a team high eight boards and passed out three assists. Kevin Goode (Spencerport) came off the bench and finished with 10.

Alfred State was 26 for 54 from the field (48.1%) from the field 5 for 17 from three (27.8%) and was 21 for 26 from the foul line. The Pioneers held a 43 to 37 advantage on the boards.

Ray Mills connected on 4 three-pointers and led the Giants with 18 points. Jeremy Jordan finished with 14 and Austin Smith came off the bench and had 12. Keystone shot 31.3% from the field, 28% from three, and 60% from the foul line.

The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday when they host Keuka in their first contest of 2019. Opening tip is slated for 3 p.m.