The Alfred State men's basketball team led for the final 36 minutes of the game and defeated John Jay 78-64 . The Pioneers have now won five of their seven contests.

The contest was back and forth for the first four minutes. When Marquis Edwards (Queens/In-Tech Academy) scored with 16:36 remaining in the 1st half the Pioneers gained a 7-6 lead and never looked back. The blue & gold led 38-25 at half and led by as many as 17, 48-31, with 15 minutes left in the game. John Jay cut the lead down to six, 66-60, with just under three minutes left but the Pioneers finished the game on a 12 to 4 run.

Four Pioneers finished in double figures in the contest led by Tyrone Davis (Brooklyn/Benjamin Banneker). Davis finished with 15 points and six assists. Juwan Toliver (Buffalo/McKinley) added 12 while Edwards and Marcus Rhett (Middletown) both chipped in 10. Justin Wallace (Mt. Vernon/Mt. St. Vincent) and Sayquan Chambers (Queens/Richmond Hill) both came off the bench and scored eight.

Alfred State shot 46.4% from the field and was 23 for 28 from the foul line. On the boards, the Pioneers held a 44 to 31 advantage.

Essien Epps led the Bloodhounds (4-11) with 20 points on 7 for 20 shooting. Kiernan Hayes recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards. John Jay shot shot 34.4%.

The Pioneers continue their NYC trip on Sunday when they battle Five Towns College at 3 p.m.