ALFRED, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's basketball team opened up their 2022-23 campaign with a 65-62 win at Alfred State on Friday. The Wildcats shot better than Alfred State from the field and from three-point range in the game and dominated in the paint scoring and rebounding to earn the win.

In the first half, the Wildcats worked hard on the glass and shot 42% from the field, but ended the first 20 minutes trailing 30-25. Jesse O'Dell had a team-high 10 points and a team-high six rebounds in the first half. Mitch Kernizan had eight points, shot a perfect 3-3 from the field, and hit both of his free throws in the first half. Paris Jamison led the Pioneers with 11 points in the first.

In the second half, the Wildcats shot 48.5 % from the field and out-rebounded Alfred St. 23-15. Their offense moved the ball very well, tallying 10 assists to the Pioneer's three. Dylan Ernst was the leader for the Wildcats in the second half. He scored 16 points and hit all four of his attempted three-pointers. Jesse O'Dell continued to find the bottom of the net in the second, scoring 11 points for the Wildcats.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Jesse O'Dell had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double with an assist and a steal.
• Dylan Ernst scored all 16 of his points for the Wildcats in the second half. The sophomore shot 66% from the field and was a perfect 4-4 from three-point range. He also had five rebounds, a pair of steals, and a team-high three blocks.
• LJ Randle was just a point short of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. He also had four assists and three steals in the win.
• Mitch Kernizan scored eight points in 12 minutes for the Wildcats. He also had four rebounds and an assist.
• Cheickne Toure led all players with six assists in the game. He scored seven points, had five rebounds, and had a block.
• Paris Jamison had a team-high 18 points for Alfred State. He also had three steals and a pair of rebounds.
• Cody Schneider had an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double for Alfred State.
• Ryan Rosa had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Pioneers.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will take on Alfred University in the Alfred/Alfred State Tip-off Classic. The game is scheduled for a 4:30 tip on Saturday, November 12th.

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SUNY Poly is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.