UC jumped out to a commanding 21-6 lead with 8:25 left in the first half behind solid play from sophomore point guard Doug Herring (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie), who got the crowd going with two dunks on the evening. Herring finished the night with 13 points. UC outscored the Soaring Eagles 12-11 over the next eight minutes and took a 33-17 lead into the half.
Alfred outplayed the Pioneers in the second half and UC’s struggles from behind the arc continued shooting 0-for-4 from 3-point land in the second half. Alfred out scored UC 34-27 in the second half but did not have enough firepower to crawl all the way back.
Jack Lighthall (Adirondack/Boonville) scored four points on just three shots, while senior guard Brian Collier (Norwich/Norwich) and James McClendon (Our Lady of Lourdes/Poughkeepsie) combined for 10 points.
Robby McCarter (Wooster/Wooster, OH) led Alfred with 19 points, and the Pioneers held dependable Dillon Stein (Norwin/North Huntington, PA) to just five points and four rebounds.
UC (11-2, 4-0 Empire 8) has won eight of their last nine and are primed to host E8 rival St. John Fisher College Saturday at 4 p.m. Both teams are undefeated in conference play and the Pioneers have a score to settle after four losses to the Cardinals last season.
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