Pioneers Battle Berkeley Tough

The Alfred State men's basketball team gave Berkeley (NY) College a battle as they closed out the 2015-16 season. The Pioneers led by ten at half but the Knights rallied in the 2nd half and extended their winning streak to 18 games with a 76-66 victory.

The Pioneers played solid in the 1st half and led by as many as 14. At the break, Alfred State led 35-25 but the Knights took advantage of Pioneer foul trouble to get back into the game early in the 2nd half. Berkeley connected on 27 of their 31 foul shots in the 2nd half and was able to erase the halftime deficit and build as large as a 13 point lead. The blue & gold tried to chip away in the final minutes but could not get closer than ten.

Justin Wallace (Mount Vernon/Mt. St. Michael) led the Pioneers with 19 points while Adam Fezza (Southhampton) scored 14 in his final game of his four-year Alfred State career. Samuel Volmy (Lockport/Christian Academy of WNY) came off the bench and chipped in 11.

The Pioneers shot 47.2% from the field but struggled from three (5 for 17) and the foul line (11 for 23). The team was slowed down by 29 turnovers and 36 fouls.

Massiah Merritt led the Knights with 21 points. Stephon Jennings (18 and 10) and Johnnie Green (11 and 12) both recorded double-doubles while Keenan Langston finished with 16.

Berkeley shot 34.4% from the field and hit only 2 for 21 three-point attempts but was 32 for 42 from the foul line (27 for 31 in the 2nd half). The Knights held a 44 to 35 advantage on the boards.

The Pioneers finish the season with a 8-17 record. The eight victories is the most for Alfred State in the three years the team has competed in Division III of the NCAA.