Utica, NY (1/31/2014) – Alfred University's Ryan Mahon drilled the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Saxons to a 96-93 victory over host Utica College in Empire 8 Conference action at the Clark Athletic Center on Friday night.  Utica's Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) netted a career-high 31 points to pace the Pioneers. 

Alfred used a 21-10 run in the final 5:44 of the contest to rally past the Pioneers. The match up featured ten ties and six lead changes.  Utica's largest lead of the game was 13 points, 60-47, 3:18 into the second half of play.  The Pioneers led the majority of the contest (66.8%), holding the lead for a total of 26:43 throughout until surrendering the lead for good with 2:17 left in regulation. 

Alfred, which averages 99.8 points per game for the season, has now won four in a row and improved to 14-4 overall and 6-2 in the Empire 8. The Pioneers have lost nine of their last ten contests and fell to 6-12 overall and 1-8 in conference play. 

Alfred's run and gun style of play saw 15 players step foot on the court, 12 of whom netted at least two points.  Thomas Tsatsis led the way for the Saxons with a team-high 18 points, while Jerry Kincel added 17 points.  Mahon scored 14 on 4-of-10 shooting from the floor while 6-foot-8 big man Steve Lothridge chipped in with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

The Pioneers' used a 20-8 run in a span of 4:50 late in the first half to take a commanding ten point lead, 42-32, with 3:49 remaining before the halftime horn. UC's Ian Henderson (Chateaugay, NY/Chateaugay) led the first half charge with eight points, while Lewis and senior guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) added four points each for the Pioneers. Henderson finished the night with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc.   Alfred answered with an 11-4 run in the final 3:34 of the first half to cut their deficit to 46-43 at the half. 

UC opened the second half on a 14-4 run in a span of 3:33 to gain its largest lead of the game, 60-47, early in the second half.  Lewis led the charge with seven points in the span. 

Alfred slowly chipped away at the Pioneers lead throughout the second half, but UC still managed a six point advantage, 85-79, with 4:29 left in regulation.  However, a 9-2 run in a span of 1:47, capped by a Tim Pacheco layup with 2:17 left in regulation gave the Saxons their first lead since the first half, 90-89. 

UC would tie the score twice in the closing minutes to keep the Clark Athletic Center crowd on the edge of their seats.  Utica point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius), who finished the game with 23 points, tied the score at 93-93 when he made a lay-up and was fouled with nine seconds left on the game clock.  Nevins missed the ensuing free throw and Alfred had time for one final possession.  Tsatsis drove the lane and collapsed the Pioneer defense, then found Mahon at the top of the arc.  Mahon cashed in on the 3-pointer as time expired to push the Saxons to their 14th victory of the season.  The Alfred bench cleared as it celebrated their sixth conference victory. 

UC's Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and chipped in with nine points, while Marty Felicia (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) added eight points. 

Utica hits the road on Saturday when the Pioneers travel to Elmira College for a conference match up against the Soaring Eagles at 2 p.m. Utica looks to avenge an early season loss (53-49) at the hands of Elmira.