Score: Alfred University 77, Elmira College 39
Records: Alfred (6-10, 3-4 E8), Elmira (2-12, 0-5 E8)
Location: Alfred, N.Y. - Terry S. Galanis Family Arena

ALFRED, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's basketball team was defeated on the road by Empire 8 Conference foe, Alfred University, by a final score of 77-39 on Thursday night at the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.

Although the Soaring Eagles never led in the contest, they went blow for blow with the Saxons for much of the first half. The two teams went back-and-forth, trading 3-pointers, until Alfred broke away late in the period to take a commanding lead.

The game started with a trey from Alfred's Sage Brown, but EC freshman Jesse Adelson '20 responded with a 3-pointer of his own on the ensuing possession to keep the game knotted. With the score even at 5-5, Tyler Seelman drained a 3-ball to start a mini 5-0 run, but Adelson once again halted the momentum with a trey to cut the deficit to 10-8 at the 15-minute mark. Following another Seelman 3-pointer, Alex Ischiropoulos '20 connected from deep to bring the Purple and Gold within three points at 14-11. Justin Porrett '19 joined the air raid at the 6:53 mark to once again trim the Alfred lead down to three, 20-17.

However, the Saxons answered with a 3-pointer off of the hands of Nick Schmidt, which sparked an 11-2 run that propelled Alfred ahead by double digits. The Saxons led 37-21 at the halftime intermission and continued to build on that advantage in the second half by outscoring the Soaring Eagles, 40-18, in the final 20 minutes.

Turning Point
While EC never held a lead over the Saxons in the early going, the Soaring Eagles were right on Alfred's heals. With just over six minutes left in the first half, a Henry Cuffee '19 baseline jumper had Elmira within four points, 23-19. However, inside the remaining six minutes, the Soaring Eagles coughed the ball up on four occasions and were a mere 1-for-6 from the field. In that span, EC was outscored 14-2, and Alfred never looked back after halftime.

Inside the Box Score

• Elmira finished with a 25.9 field goal percentage (14-of-54), while Alfred converted 51.7 percent of its chances (31-of-60).
• The Saxons made 9-of-26 3-point attempts; EC went 6-for-22 from deep.
• Alfred out-rebounded the Purple and Gold, 44-to-31.
• The two teams combined to make only 11 free throws on 23 tries.
• Both teams had seven steals.
• Adelson was EC's leading point scorer with 11, which included a trio of 3-pointers.
• Porrett scored seven points, hauled in a team-leading seven boards, and was tied for the team lead with two steals.
• Kyle McCreery '20, a 6-foot-8-inch freshman, had a game-high two blocks.
• Seelman and Schmidt paced the Saxons with 15 points apiece.
• Seelman and Schmidt combined to make six of Alfred's nine treys.
• Brown scored 11 points for the Saxons, followed by Sam Dagon with 10.
• All four of Alfred's double-digit scorers made five field goals.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles are now 2-12 on the season and 0-5 inside Empire 8 play.
• Seven steals are a new season high for Elmira.
• EC tied its previous season best with three blocks.
• Elmira finished with 15 offensive rebounds vs. Alfred, one shy of its season high.
• Adelson scored double-digit points for the second time in his debut season.
• Adelson has scored double-digit points in each of his two starts this season.
• With three 3-pointers, Adelson has finished with multiple treys in both of his games with double figures.
• Adelson's five rebounds are a new single-game high for the rookie guard.
• Porrett tied his season high with seven rebounds.
• Porrett has posted multiple steals in three consecutive games.
• Ischiropoulos recorded a season high with four assists.
• McCreery's two blocked shots are a single-game high for the rookie forward.

Up Next
Elmira returns home to Speidel Gymnasium on Saturday, January 21st, for a 4:00 p.m. conference contest against the Bombers of Ithaca College.