Alfred Holds Off Wells; Hartwick Falls to Division I Binghamton
ALFRED 84, Wells 77
The AU men's basketball team topped the Wells College Express, 84-77, in a high intensity game Wednesday evening in the Farenthold Athletic Wing at Wells College.
AU topped the Well College Express, with senior forward
Dalton Walsh shouldering much of the offensive production. In the opening minutes the game, Walsh already had 15 points while the Saxons were out to a 24-3 lead.
With a 21 point lead in hand, the Saxons shot 45.7% in the first half while mounting five steals and forcing 11 turnovers. However, toward the end of the first half the Express looked to come back to make it a game, shooting 42.3% down the stretch. At the intermission, the score was, 39-32
, in favor of the Saxons.
With only a seven-point lead at half, the Saxons maintained their offensive showcase on the evening, posting 45 points in the second stanza. The largest margin for the Saxons was 14 points in the second half, but the Express continued to put pressure on the defense, coming back within five with only 2:32 to go.
The Saxons would keep their composure and make 11 of 12 free throws in the closing minutes of the game to secure the win. The final was, 84-77, with the Saxons on top.
Walsh ended the evening with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks. Sophomore guard,
Tyler Seelman, was also a major contributor, playing 38 minutes for the Saxons, scoring 20 points and adding five assists. Freshman
Nick Schmidt continued his hot streak from three-point land, making 2 of 2 (10-11 on the season) on the night, adding six points.
Binghamton 82, HARTWICK 51
Hartwick faced a tall task Wednesday night as it traveled to Division I Binghamton University at the Events Center in Vestal. The Hawks managed to lead the Bearcats for a total of 1:49 and hung around by less than 10 points for the first 12 minutes before the hosts pulled away in an 82-51 win.
Ten Hawks got into the scoring column, led by
Matt Wilson's (Shelton, CT/Franklin & Marshall College) 10 points.
Glenn Gavan (Newton, NJ/Pope John XXIII) added eight points for 'Wick with
Trevor Norton (Mullica Hill, NJ/Ursinus College) contributing seven.
Justin Pratt (North Kingstown, RI/North Kingstown) gave Hartwick the early lead, 3-0, after hitting a three-pointer 43 seconds into the game. The Bearcats got the next four points, but a Wilson layup at 18:03 put the Hawks in front again, 5-4. Romello Walker hit a three on the next Binghamton possession and the Cats would take the lead for keeps.
The Hawks kept pace with Binghamton, however. Gavan nailed a three-pointer at 13:55 to close the Bearcat advantage to four, 15-11. 'Wick inched closer on a Pratt triple at 10:55 to trim the margin to three, 17-14.
Binghamton built its lead to double digits with 7:42 left in the half on a Yosef Yacob three-point basket. The Cats increased it to a 16-point gap with under six minutes to go before a pair of Gavan free throws and then a three-pointer trimmed it to 11 points, 33-22, at 4:43. An 8-3 run to end the half gave Binghamton a 41-25 lead heading into the locker room.
Back to back three-pointers from Justin McFadden and Yacob in the first 33 seconds of the second half opened up a 22-point lead for the hosts. A jumper by
Jake Sinicki (Endicott, NY/Maine-Endwell) and then two free throws from
Joey Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) made it an 18-point game shortly thereafter but Yacob converted on the other end and the Bearcats would lead by at least 20 for the remainder of the game.
Pratt would finish with six points for the Hawks. Lufkin scored five and Sinicki added five points and a game-high six rebounds.
The Bearcats were led by Dusan Perovic who scored 18 points. Yacob ended the night with 14 points and Walker netted nine.