Houghton, NY- The Alfred State men's basketball team made a late resilient comeback that was just not enough as they succumbed to a loss against the Houghton Highlanders, 83-80. This loss sets their overall record to 1-3 early in the season.
 
Darius Cunningham Jr. led the way for the Pioneers on the floor with a double-double, notching 27 points and 13 rebounds. Mykell Lawson followed behind with 14 points, four assists and three rebounds.
 
Early in the first half, the Highlanders grabbed a five-point lead. The Pios were able to grab short leads from Cunningham Jr. and Eli Taft. Houghton would take control for the remainder of the first half, keeping a big enough deficit that Alfred could not overcome. Lawson would deliver a layup in the paint with 20 seconds left to put the score at 43-34, Houghton going into halftime.
 
With six minutes left in the second half, the Pioneers took off on an 18-0 run that started by a Cunningham Jr. layup assisted by Taft, 81-62. Cunningham Jr. would go on to score 10 more points in that run alongside Taft putting up four of his own. Ben Sneddon contributed two good free throws and Elijah Kioko laid in a layup from Taft. Unfortunately, this energizing streak was cut short as Houghton held them off to a 83-80 win.
 
The Pioneers will hit the road again this Saturday as they head to Huntingdon, PA to take on the Juniata Eagles. Tip off is set for 2 pm.