ALFRED, NY – A strong defensive outing from the Alfred University men's basketball team wasn't enough, as they were defeated by Pitt-Bradford in 72-66 fashion on Friday night from the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.

The Saxons (2-3, 0-0 Empire 8) held the Panthers (4-1, 0-0 AMCC) to 34.8 percent from the field, while winning the rebound battle by a 47-32 margin.

Alfred University was led by Zion Baitey (Morristown, NJ/Morristown), who finished the game with a team-high 18 points to go with 10 rebounds. Franlys Valenzuela (Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic/San Ysidro) put together a double-double performance that consisted of 17 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. Tyler Hind (Randolph, NY/Randolph) added 10 points for AU.

"Not the finished we wanted, but I'm proud of how our guys fought tonight," Head Coach Erich Kaempffe said. "I know we're all excited to get back to work for Tuesday."

Baitey began the game scoring four of Alfred University's first seven points for the initial lead. After the Panthers cut their deficit to a single point, the Saxons replied with a 10-1 run in which four different players scored. A pair of layups from Baitey and Abdoul Toure (Brooklyn, NY/High School for Public Service) had the Saxons leading 35-27 going into the break. Alfred University capitalized in the early moments of the second half, with Valenzuela adding five points as part of an opening 10-0 run. Pitt-Bradford answered with a 20-3 run of their own, trailing by one point with over 11 minutes remaining. A shot from beyond the arc with under 10 minutes to play gave the Panthers their first advantage of the half. The Saxons fought their way back into the game, with a layup by Baitey turning the contest into a one-possession difference, but the Panthers allowed just three points across the final two minutes of action to hold on for the win.

Alfred University will next be on the road to compete at Hilbert College on Tuesday at 7:00 PM.