ALFRED, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's basketball team dropped its Empire 8 opener on Saturday afternoon to the Saxons of Alfred University, 60-51. Following a slow start on the offensive side from both teams, the Saxons would use a 21-11 run over the final ten minutes of play in the first half, which would be the difference in the contest as the Soaring Eagles outscored the opposition 30-29 in the second half. 

Tyler Cardello '26 would finish the game with a team-best 21 points to go along with eight rebounds, while Riley Spencer '26 and Dylan Jacob '24 rounded out the Elmira scoring with 11 and ten points, respectively. 

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 51, Alfred Univ. 60
LOCATION: Alfred, New York | Terry S. Galantis Arena
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (2-5, 0-1 E8), Alfred University  (3-4, 1-0 E8)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Through the first seven and a half minutes of play, the teams would be tied at 4-4 before a made three-pointer from Marc Anthony Artuz '24 to put Elmira ahead 7-4. The Soaring Eagles would keep its lead at three points for the next minute and a half before Alfred tied the contest at 10-10. For the remainder of the half, the Saxons would use a 21-11 run as they carried a 31-21 lead into the break. 
• For the first half, the Soaring Eagles would shoot 8-of-22 (36.4%) from the floor, compared to 35.3% for the Saxons as Cardello led the way with eight points. 
• In the second, the Soaring Eagles would hold the upper-hand, outscoring the Saxons 30-29 as Cardello posted 13 second half points. 
• With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, the Soaring Eagles would cut the Alfred lead to as little as six points following a made jumper from Cardello, but free throws and forced fouls down the stretch would see the Saxons leave with the 60-51 victory. 
• For the contest, Elmira would finish 19-of-53 from the floor (35.8%), while Alfred finished 21-of-59 (35.6%). The Soaring Eagles would outscore Alfred 11-10 in second chance points, while the Saxons controlled the bench points margin, 27-6.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the court on Friday, December 8 when heading to the Rochester Institute of Technology to take on Bryant & Stratton (Rochester) at 6:00 PM before taking on the RIT Tigers on December 9 as part of the Harold J. Brodie Tournament.