ALFRED, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University men's basketball team opened Empire 8 Conference Play on Tuesday night with a 59-50 loss to Alfred University at Terry S. Galanis Family Arena. 

The Cardinals had their two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 4-6 overall, while the Saxons improved to 5-6 overall (1-1 Empire 8). Fisher had won the last two meetings in the series. 

The Cardinals had control for most of the early stages of the first half. Senior forward Connor Williams scored six of Fisher's first 12 points as the Cardinals built a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes. After a brief Alfred run trimmed that lead to three, the Cardinals led by eight again minutes later after senior guard Max Schneider's 3-pointer with just under 10 minutes to play in the half. 

The Saxons kept the Cardinals from extending their lead further and led 27-22 at halftime after closing the half on a 9-2 run. 

The Cardinals pulled even with the Saxons early in the second half behind a 6-1 run, during which Williams scored four points. Alfred, though, once again responded quickly and pushed its lead back to seven three minutes later. 

The Saxons took control with about five minutes left, building a nine-point lead (50-41) with an 8-0 run. They secured the victory at the foul line in the final two minutes and gained their largest lead of the contest (11 points) with just over a minute left. 

Williams led the Cardinals with 19 points while shooting 8 of 13 overall, 2 of 4 from 3-point range and 1 of 1 from the foul line. Senior forward Eric Kegler scored 13 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds and a career-high five assists. 

Alfred had a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 17 of 23 shots. The Cardinals (4 of 9) didn't get to the line often and failed to capitalize on their chances when they did. 

Three Saxons – Tyler Curran (16 points), Tyler Hind (15) and Amoi Charles (13) – scored in double figures. Curran shot an efficient 4 of 8 overall, 3 of 4 from three and 5 of 8 from the foul line. Charles pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. 

Up Next

The Cardinals face SUNY Poly at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.