Washington, D.C.—The Alfred University men's basketball (5-1, E8 0-0) team topped Valley Forge Christian College, 66-59, in the first round of the Gallaudet Holiday Tournament late Friday evening.
 
Julian Reinhart (Hornell, NY/Hornell) led the Saxons with 20 points and eight rebounds on the way to the Saxons second win in a row and fifth on the season.  Reinhart shot lights-out making 6-of-7 (85.7%) from the field and 8-of-12 (75.0%) from the free-throw line on the night.
 
The Saxons started the game out on top taking a 9-2 lead before the Patriots looked to come back to take the lead with 9:14 to go in the half.  The lead for Valley Forge was short-lived with the Saxons only falling behind by four.  With 5:56 left in the first half the Saxons reassumed a lead with a layup in the paint by Ryan Mahon (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta).  With the lead in hand, the Saxons held onto a small margin into the half.  As the teams headed to the locker room for the intermission the scoreboard read, 29-27 in favor the Saxons.
 
In the opening minutes of the second half the Saxons started out hot again, taking a 9-point lead, however it was erased only five minutes later.  Yet again, the Saxons gripped the lead and were able to create an 11-point margin with 2:39 to go in the game.  This time AU would not let Valley Forge crawl back and secured a 7-point victory, 66-59.
 
Echoing the game from Tuesday, it was a full team effort to secure the win for the Saxons with 11 players scoring on the night.  Sophomore Tyler Seelman (Lorton, VA/Hayfield Secondary) had 10 points and two blocks while Dalton Walsh (Stockton, NY/Casadega Valley) anchored the paint for AU with nine points and 11 rebounds.  Freshman forward, Kevin McFall (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland), dished the ball around the court from inside leading the Saxons with three assists. 
 
With the win the Saxons move on to the finals where they will take on the host, Gallaudet University, who topped Maryland Bible, 66-48, in the opening round.