ROCHESTER, NY - A competitive effort in the second half for the Alfred University men's basketball team resulted in a 66-64 win over St. John Fisher University on Friday evening from the Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.

The Saxons (5-2, 1-0 Empire 8) outscored the Cardinals (2-4, 0-1 Empire 8) 37-28 in the second half while winning the rebound battle by a 37-32 margin.

Alfred University was led by Mike Schmidt (Olean, NY/Olean), who finished the game with a team-high 25 points to go with four assists and four rebounds. Elliot Bowen (Salamanca, NY/Ellicotville) ended with 10 points and seven boards. Casey Curran (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) added 10 points for AU. 

"Winning is hard and we're excited to win a big game," Head Coach Erich Kaempffe said. "Fisher is a great team. They do a great job. We have a long way to go, but we're excited about this one."

Each side traded successful shots early in the first half, but a 7-0 run by the Cardinals was ultimately snapped by a three-point shot from Schmidt. Moments later, a pair of successful shots from St. John Fisher had Alfred University trailing by double-digits. The Saxons responded with consecutive jumpers from Bowen and Curran to cut their deficit to six points. Shortly after, a three-point shot from Brewster Marshall (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) was followed by a layup from Robby Hicks (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) to have AU trailing by one possession with two minutes remaining in the first half. Both sides found points in the final minutes before St. John Fisher carried a 36-29 advantage into the break.

In the second half, a three-point shot from Adam Enders (Belfast, NY/Belfast) was followed by a layup from Kevin Durkin (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's Collegiate) to tie the game with just under 12 minutes remaining in regulation. On the next possession, Schmidt hit a shot from deep to give Alfred University the one-point advantage. Following four quick points from St. John Fisher, Enders found an opening in the paint to give the Saxons a two-point lead with just over seven minutes left in the game. The Cardinals took the lead back less than a minute later, but AU responded with a three-point shot from Durkin. St. John Fisher briefly took back the lead once again, but Alfred University relied on four consecutive free throws from Schmidt to take back the lead. A strong defensive stand from the Saxons in the final seconds ultimately sealed the win. 

"We just have to continue to play together and play as hard as we can," Kaempffe said. "We'll see what happens tomorrow."

Alfred University will next face a quick turnaround when they play Nazareth College on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 4:00 PM.