Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team fell in the last seconds of play to the Saxons of Alfred University, 59-61, Tuesday evening in the Speidel Gymnasium. The win improves the Saxons to 11-5 overall and 4-3 in Empire 8 play, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 0-17 overall and 0-7 in conference competition.
Alfred controlled the tempo most of the first half only letting EC get the lead once. Elmira fought hard throughout the half trying to cut into the Saxons lead. With 34 seconds left in the first half Josh Keys '14 (Bel Air, MD -- CM Wright) hit a big three pointer that helped cut the Saxons lead to six, but with three seconds left Alfred responded right back putting the halftime score at 36-27. In the half EC shot only 42 percent from the field, while the Saxons shot 56 percent. Keys led the Soaring Eagles in scoring with 11 points, shooting 75 percent from the three point line. Chris Cassidy '14 (Colts Neck, NJ -- Colts Neck) also helped out the team scoring nine points of his own and grabbing four boards.
In second half the Saxons looked to expand its lead, but the Soaring Eagles fought hard trying to keep the game close. EC pulled the game within four with 12:30 left to play in the game. With 11:45 left in play Dan O'Brien '14 (Oneonta, NY -- Oneonta) made a layup to make it 45-44 Alfred. At the 9:15 minute mark Keys hit a huge three pointer to put EC up 47-46. The lead would not last long as Alfred hit a jumper to go up by one with 8:15 left. Keys hit another three fading away at the 7:54 mark to give EC the lead right back, 50-48. Soon after the Soaring Eagles got a five point lead with a big three from O'Brien and a layup by Eric Klinedinst '12 (York, PA -- Northeastern). Alfred hit a jumper to cut into the Soaring Eagles lead, but EC responded with Cassidy grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up and in. With less than two minutes left Mike Branche went to line and made both free throws to tie it up. With 46 seconds left the Saxons went up by two off a lay in by Sean Curran. With 24 seconds left Alfred's Josh Parker went to the line and made one free throw to go up by three. At the 11 second mark Klinedinst went to the line and made two free throws pulling the game to 60-59 Saxons. With five seconds left in the game Alfred went to the free throw line, making the first and missing the second. EC got the ball back, but after a steal by Alfred's Dalton Walsh the game was sealed, 61-59.
In the second half EC shot 50 percent from behind the arc, 41 percent from the field and 63 percent from the free throw line, while Alfred shot 33 percent from the arc, 38 percent from the field and 47 percent from the line. Keys led the Soaring Eagles in scoring with 20 points and shooting 60 percent from the three point line. Cassidy also contributed big with a double-double on 11 points and 12 boards. O'Brien was another key for Elmira as he scored 14 points and contributed seven rebounds. Leading the Saxons were Derek Lewis who scored 12 points, Parker with nine points and three other players with eight points.
The Soaring Eagles return to action Friday, January 27th when they host St. John Fisher College at 8:00 p.m.
Alfred 61 Elmira 59
Box Score
