A strong first half helped the Alfred State Pioneers beat the SUNY Poly Wildcats 80-79 on Thursday evening inside Campus Center Gym.

Alfred State improved to 5-7 overall after shooting 45.1% from the floor, 70% in free throws, collecting 38 rebounds and recording 15 assists.

Basheem Wilkerson (Brooklyn/John Jay) led the team with 12 points and added two assists, Josh Reding (Spencerport) chipped in 10 points and four assists, Paris Jamison (Brooklyn/East Side Community) recorded nine points and three assists, Tavion Williams (Bronx/FDA) had nine points with two assists and Josh Romero (Bronx/Theodore Roosevelt) had eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Pioneers out-scored the Wildcats 47-37 in the first half and led by 15 points with 7:44 remaining after going on a 16-4 run.

SUNY Poly put up 42 points in the second half, held Alfred State to just 33 points and led by six with 6:12 left in the game.

Jamison and Williams made layups and Stone Siverling (Batavia) drained a three-pointer to come within one before the Pioneers took a time out with less than three minutes left.

The Wildcats made two free throws and Ryan Rosa (Middletown) put in a jumper and layup followed by a layup by Stone for the insurance.

Alfred State is home Monday, Jan. 3 to play RIT at 3 p.m.