ROCHESTER, NY—The Alfred University men's basketball team (10-5, E8 4-3) was outdone by the incredibly hot St. John Fisher Cardinals (13-2, E8 6-0) Tuesday evening, 77-46.
 
The AU Saxons offense was outmatched by the strong defense on part of the SJFC Cardinals to hand AU its third loss in Empire 8 play.  The Cardinals continued their offensive frenzy, shooting 26-50 (52.0%) from the field on the night.
 
Alfred became a victim of circumstance entering the Manning & Napier Gymnasium against a streaking Cardinal offense that most recently scored 102 points against Hartwick College and downed a very formidable Stevens Ducks team by shooting 51.1% from the field.
 
The beginning of the game certainly favored Fisher as they came out and grabbed a 21-9 lead midway through the first half.  The rest of the way through the first period, SJFC held a large lead and the Saxons could only whittle the deficit down to 11 points with 7:03 to go.  The Saxons would go into the half nursing a 16-point deficit, 36-20.
 
The Cardinals seemed to finally find an answer for the dominating force that is senior forward Dalton Walsh (Stockton, NY/Cassadega Valley) holding him to seven points in the first half.  The next highest scoring Saxon in the first half was Jerry Kincel (Moosic, Pa/Riverside) with four points and in only five minutes of work.  The Saxons struggled to find their rythym, shooting 8-of-26 (30.8%) from the field and 0-of-7 from behind the arc.
 
The second half followed suit of the first with the Cardinals starting on fire and going on a nearly seven minute 15-4 run to open the latter period.  Sophomore Tyler Seelman (Lorton, VA/Hayfield Secondary) and senior Tim Pacheco (Mt. Pocono, PA/Pocono Mountain East) led the Saxons in the second half with five points each. 
 
In the end, the Saxon offense struggled while the Fisher offense continued to roll on during their hot streak.  As the game came to a close, the Saxons found themselves on the lower end of a 77-46 game.
 
Walsh ended the evening with 11 points and seven rebounds while Seelman and Pacheco added seven points apiece.  The Cardinals were able to ride the backs of their two workhorses, Keegan Ryan and Optimystik Kinard for 13 points each.
 
AU looks to rebounds against Ithaca College (7-8, E8 4-2) Friday, Jan. 23, in Ithaca, NY.