BROOKLYN – A 19-0 Pioneers first half run spanning 4:21 led visiting Alfred State to an 87-60 win over Pratt in non-conference men's basketball play Friday night at the ARC.
Senior Ari Grant led all players with a 21-points, 12-rebound double-double, his ninth in nine games this year. Sophomore Bubby Vernon led all players with four three-pointers, hitting 4-8 from deep for 14 points, but a 5-4 Cannoneers lead was turned into a 23-5 deficit, and Pratt never again came within eight.
The hosts scored six of the next eight, with an Akil Philip jumper bringing the team to within 25-16 at the 11:00 mark. Alfred State responded with 18 straight, going on top 53-28 before a 7-0 Pratt run brought Pratt to within 53-35 at halftime.
A Vernon three-pointer pulled Pratt to within 53-40 in the opening minutes of the second, but the Pioneers again responded, scoring eight straight. Thirteen different players scored for Alfred State, with the Pioneers bench outscoring Pratt's 39-8, as the visitors went on to an 87-60 win.
The Pioneers (7-9) won the battle of the boards 57-37 and held Pratt to 22 percent (8-37) three-point shooting.
Grant's five blocked shots were also a game-high, and Philip added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
At 4-6, Pratt returns to Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. at the College of New Rochelle.
