Six different Pioneers scored at least eight points as Alfred State downed SUNY ESF 78-49 on Thursday evening. The blue & gold are now 5-3 on the season and have won four of their last five contests.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first 6:30 of the game and never looked back. They led 38-28 at the break after shooting 43.8% from the field. ESF cut the lead to seven early in the 2nd half before Alfred State went on a 18 to 2 run to put the game out of reach. The blue & gold led by as many as 29 in the contest.

Marcus Rhett (Middletown) and Dante Jordan (New York/HS Law & Public) both scored 11 points to lead the Pioneers. Devon Tash (Brooklyn/Midwood) and Tyrone Freeman (Bronx/Wings Academy) both came off the bench and chipped in nine points while Josh Miller-LaBar (Groton/Lansing) finished with eight points. Alexshay Pearce (Rochester/Charlotte) also scored eight points. Ben Deming (Waterloo) and Jordan both had a team high seven boards as the Pioneers held a 50 to 34 advantage on the glass. 

Cole Paradies led the Mighty Oaks (2-5) with 12 points while James Squier added 10.

The blue & gold shot 46.5% from the field while ESF shot only 32.7%. The Pioneers forced the Mighty Oaks into 21 turnovers in the contest. 

Alfred State closes out the 2017 portion of their season on Saturday when they travel to Penn College for a 3 p.m. tip-off with the Wildcats.