ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University men's basketball team opened E8 competition with a 90-56 loss to Nazareth University on Saturday afternoon from the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.

Tyler Curran (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) led Alfred University with a team-high 14 points to go with four assists and three rebounds. Franlys Valenzuela (Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic/San Ysidro) registered 12 points along with seven boards. Tyler Hind (Randolph, NY/Randolph) added six points for AU.

Following an opening 7-0 run for Nazareth, the Saxons relied on early points from Curran and Hind to cut their deficit. Five straight points for Valenzuela gave AU their first lead of the afternoon. The Golden Flyers equalized the game moments later, but points from Robby Hicks (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Andria Siamashvili (Belgrade, Serbia/Rabun Gap Cacoochee School) kept Alfred University in front. A 12-0 run for Nazareth was ended by a deep shot from Hicks. The Golden Flyers outscored the Saxons in 16-6 fashion across the final five minutes of the first half, taking a 50-29 lead into the break. In the second half, Alfred University was led by the scoring efforts of Curran and Gennaro Picco (Hornell, NY/Hornell), but Nazareth shot 57.7 percent from the field as a team to hold on for the win.

Alfred University will next host Penn College in a non-conference matchup next Saturday at 2:00 PM.