SALEM, VA - The Alfred University men's basketball team concluded the Frankie Allen Tip-Off Tournament with an 82-67 consolation win against Mary Baldwin University.
The Saxons (3-2, 0-0 Empire 8) shot 52.6 percent from the field while the Fighting Squirrels (1-4, 0-0 USA South) turned the ball over 11 times.
Elliot Bowen (Salamanca, NY/Ellicotville) led Alfred University with 21points, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the field. Brewster Marshall (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) finished with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double performance. Adam Enders (Belfast, NY/Belfast) added 16 points for AU with 12 points coming from three-point range.
"I thought we did a nice job hanging in there in a game we didn't shoot in that well," Head Coach Erich Kaempffe said. "I'm proud of the mental toughness we showed."
The Fighting Squirrels opened the first half with an 11-4 run to put the Saxons behind early. Consecutive shots from Mike Schmidt (Olean, NY/Olean) were followed by a jump shot by Darren Miller (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy) to tie the game with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. Each side continued to trade successful shots, but back-to-back three-point shots from Enders in the final two minutes of action gave the Saxons their first lead since the opening minute, as Alfred University led 39-38 going into the break.
In the second half, Enders picked up where he left off with an additional shot from beyond the arc. Marshall scored four points as part of a 9-0 run for AU, as they led by as many as eight points with 16 minutes remaining in the game. Moments later, another successful shot in the paint from Miller granted the Saxons their first double-digit advantage of the afternoon. Mary Baldwin continued to fight their way back into the game, turning the contest into a one-possession game with just under four minutes to play. However, five points from Marshall in the final 90 seconds of regulation extended the lead for Alfred University and ultimately secured the win.
"We just have to keep getting better," Kaempffe said. "We're looking forward to a day off and then getting back to work on Monday."
Alfred University will next return home to host Pitt-Bradford before the Thanksgiving break on Tuesday night with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM.