ALFRED, NY - The Alfred University men's basketball team began their 2025-26 season with a narrow 76-73 loss to Lycoming College on Friday night as part of the Crossbar Alfred Classic. 

Amoi Charles (Elmont, NY/H. Frank Carey) led Alfred University with a team-high 20 points to go with six rebounds and seven steals. Tyler Curran (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. Zion Baitey (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) registered eight points and five boards for the Saxons. 

"Not the result we wanted tonight, obviously," Head Coach Erich Kaempffe said. "Credit to Lycoming for playing nicely. We'll get back to work for tomorrow - I believe in the guys in our locker room."

Curran opened with five points inside the first three minutes of action to give AU the initial lead. A deep shot by Robby Hicks (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) had the Saxons leading by as many as eight points with under 10 minutes to play in the opening half. Charles scored 10 of the last 14 points for Alfred University, who entered halftime with a 41-35 lead. 

A 9-0 run by Lycoming in the early stages of the second half forced the Saxons to play from behind. Consecutive baskets by Nolan Gilbert (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) cut into the deficit for AU. Lycoming responded with back-to-back baskets of their own to extend their advantage into double-digits. With the Saxons trailing by 13 points, Abdoul Toure (Brooklyn, NY/High School for Public Service) scored seven straight points for Alfred University to bring the Saxons within six points with seven minutes remaining. Baitey capitalized with five points of his own to turn the contest into a one-possession game. Later in the half, Curran was fouled on a layup to cut the deficit to just one point with 1:32 to play. The Saxons had a few late opportunities to score, but a last-second shot by Tyler Hind (Randolph, NY/Randolph) came up just short at the buzzer. 

Alfred University will next compete in the consolation of the Crossbar Alfred Classic at home on Saturday afternoon.