ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University men's basketball team scored over 30 points in each half while giving up no more than 24 points in a half to advance to the Empire 8 Semi-Finals with a 67-42 win over Medaille University on Tuesday night from the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.
 
Mike Schmidt (Olean, NY/Olean) led three other Saxons in double-digit scoring while rounding out a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists while adding two rebounds and two steals. Casey Curran (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) also had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds (11 defensive) while adding two assists, two steals and a game-high three blocks.
 
Brewster Marshall (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) added 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and one block and Darren Miller (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy) posted 10 points, eight boards and three steals to close out the top scoring efforts by AU.
 
Only two other Saxons scored on the night as Adam Enders (Belfast, NY/Belfast) scored nine points and Elliot Bowen (Salamanca, NY/Ellicotville) added six.
 
"Really proud of the defensive effort. Our guys were ready against a tough opponent in Medaille," Head Coach Erich Kaempffe said. "We're excited for the opportunity to play Friday night in the semi-finals. Naz is always one of the best programs in our region and we have so much respect for them."
 
The Saxons (20-6, 14-4 Empire 8) gave up an early lead to the Mavericks (9-17, 7-11 Empire 8) as they had a six-point lead in the first four minutes, 8-2. Miller scored twice with Schmidt adding a jumper in the paint as AU tied it, 8-8 with just over 14 minutes to go. It wasn't until a layup from Marshall off a pass from Bowen that AU had its first lead of the night, 12-10 with 11:02 to go in the first half.
 
The bucket initiated a Saxon scoring spree as they built up to a 12-point lead right before halftime with a 3-pointer from Curran.
 
The second half was all purple & gold with AU holding its largest lead of the night with an Enders 3-pointer with just under six minutes left in regulation, 62-34.
 
The Saxons will next travel to Utica University to face No. 2 seeded Nazareth College on Friday, February 24 at 7:30pm.