Newport News, VA: Alfred University's Dom LeMorta scored a game high 45 points as the Saxons defeated the Ramapo College men's basketball team, 92-76, in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament tonight at Christopher Newport University.
 
Alfred (24-4) extend their win streak to 14 games and advances to tomorrow's NCAA second round game against the winner of CNU and Albertus Magnus at 7pm. The Roadrunners wrap up the season at 18-10 overall, as they made their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth appearance in school history.
 
LeMorta opened the game with a three-pointer for Alfred as they jumped out to a 13-2 lead with less than 18 minutes on the clock. Ramapo cut the lead to seven with a pair of free throws from Kashaun Barnes and a layup from Matt Latka, 6-13 with 17:03 on the clock. A three-pointer from LeMorta pushed the Saxon lead to 23-8 with less than 14 minutes to play in the half before Ramapo once again came within five with an 8-0 run. Rob McWilliams hit back-to-back three-pointers before Rob Lewis connected on a layup 22-27 with 10:13 on the clock. A basket from Alfred pushed the score 29-22 before Ramapo went on a 9-0 run to take a 31-29 lead. The run was capped off by a layup from Jordan Zagadou. In the next three minutes of action the game would be tied three times, the fourth time of the game at 37-37 all as Scotty Stopera scored a jumper for Alfred. A pair of free throws from Brewster Marshall and a layup off a steal from McWilliams tied the score at 39 with 2:35 left in the half. The Saxons would outscore Ramapo down the stretch 7-3 as they went into the locker room up 46-42.
 
LeMorta tallied 25 points in the first half including 9-15 from the field, 3-4 from the three-point line and 4-4 from the free throw line. For the Roadrunners, McWilliams led the way with 12 points while Zagadou added ten points of his own.
 
A 14-3 run to start the second half extended the Alfred lead to 60-45 with a three-pointer from Cole Eells. The Roadrunners saw themselves down 15 once again, 63-48, with just over 14 minutes on the clock when LeMorta sank another three-pointer for Alfred. Barnes connected on his own three which started a 9-0 run. The run was capped off with a pair of free throws from Connor Romano to shrink the Saxon lead to six 57-63 with less than 13 minutes left on the clock. An 11-3 run from Alfred pushed their lead back to double digits 74-60 with 10:11 on the clock. The Saxons would take their biggest lead of the game with four minutes left to go 88-70. Jason Battle sank a pair of free throws before McWilliams scored a layup 74-88 while Marshall and Romano traded layups 76-90. Marshall scored the final points of the game on the free throw line with 48 seconds remaining as Alfred advanced to the NCAA Second Round game tomorrow night 92-76.