ALFRED, NY – Five Saxons scored in double-digits for the second consecutive game as the Alfred University men's basketball team (13-4, Empire 8 6-2) handled Utica 78-54 in the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.

Junior Sage Brown (Cortland, NY/Cortland) earned his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Dalton Cousin (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Dom LeMorta (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville), Nick Schmidt (Olean, NY/Olean) and Sam Dagon (Hornell, NY/Hornell) all scored 10 or more points in the contest.

The opening 15 minutes were a battle to gain the lead, with each team taking narrow margins on the other. Finally, with 5:20 to go, the Saxons broke the stalemate and began to pull away from the Pioneers. Junior Scotty Stopera (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) put AU on top with two made free throws. The effort was quickly followed by a fast-break layup by Cousin, putting the Saxons on top 27-23. AU built a 33-23 lead before allowing Utica to score again.

The half closed with the Saxons on top 40-29.

AU opened the second half on an 11-0 run, putting the game out of reach 51-29. The Saxons carried their momentum further down the stretch to a comfortable 78-54 Empire 8 victory.

AU dominated Utica in all facets of the game including shooting (53.4% to 32.2%), points off turnovers (23-13), second chance points (11-7), bench points (26-22), fast break points (6-4) and points in the paint (32-16).

The Saxons take a short hiatus until next Saturday when they host the Elmira Soaring Eagles at 2PM during the Alfred University Athletics Community Day.