ALFRED, N.Y. – Russell Sage College fell to the Saxons of Alfred University on Friday evening 73-65. The Saxons shot 36.4% from beyond the three-point line and scored 36 of their points on the way to the Empire 8 Conference victory.
The Gators had four players score ten or more points. Senior forward Tahirou Hamidou (Bronx, NY/Carolina Basketball Academy/Livingstone) tied his season-high in the scoring column with 14. He added eight rebounds and two assists to the statsheet.
Junior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) also had 14 points, while grabbing four rebounds and distributing five assists.
Junior guard Marcus Gentile (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central/Utica) found himself in twin figures for the fifth time this season, contributing 12 points, while freshman guard Deavion Springsteen (Albany, NY/Albany) shot two-of-three from beyond the arc on the way to ten points.
Sophomore guard Tyler Hind led the way for the Saxons (10-12/7-6 E8), scoring 19 points, ten of those coming from the free throw line. Guard Adam Enders, a grad student, had 18 points, knocking down five threes and hitting three free throws.
Sophomore forward Franlys Valenzuela took care of business on the boards, reeling in 13 rebounds. Valenzuela was the only player with double-figure rebounds for either squad.
Looking ahead, RSC (9-14/2-12 E8) is back in action tomorrow afternoon with a trip to Elmira.
Gator Bites: Head coach Brian Barnes is in his 15th season at the helm of the Gators…Seven returnees and eight newcomers comprise this year's roster…The team's co-captains: junior guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls), senior guard Jackson Brown (Latham, NY/Catholic Central/Fredonia State) and junior forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) helped the Gators get off to a 4-0 start…Girard commenced the week leading the Gators with 16.5 points per-game, good for sixth in the E8... He recorded 31 points, a career-high, on 10-of-16 shooting in the November 18 win at SUNY Poly...Brown added 9.8 points per-game, while Williamson averaged 8.1 points and 6 rebounds...An RSC player has taken home Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the week on four occasions...Freshman center Khalel Noteman (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie) was picked three times (November 13, November 27, December 4), while freshman guard Deavion Springsteen (Albany, NY/Albany) was chosen on November 20…RSC began the week ranked third in the E8 by allowing 70.7 points per-game.
