ALFRED, N.Y. – La Roche men's basketball took to the road for the first time in AMCC play on Saturday afternoon and fell short 60-57 against Alfred State.

The first half was all Pioneers by the end, but it was the Redhawks who opened the game hot, leading 8-2 in the first 2:14 of play.

However, what ensued over the next 12:36 was a complete 180 degree turn, as Alfred State went on a 21-3 run to open a 23-11 lead with 5:08 left in the first half and a total run of 32-10 over the entire 17:46 to take a 34-18 lead into the half.

Out of the break, the Pioneers contined to hold serve and with the clock reading 14:28 held a 47-29 edge.

La Roche then locked in over the next 6:59 to trim the 18-point deficit down to just a five-point difference, doing so with a 15-2 run, making the score 49-44.

In the later stages of the second half, 2:25 remaining to be exact, the red and black battled all the way back, taking the lead 55-53, making it a total run of 26-6 over that 12:03 span.

Holding a 57-56 lead with just eight seconds remaining, Alfred State scored to take the lead and with a chance at a final opportunity, La Roche turned over the ball and free-throws would seal the game for the hosts.

For the game, the Redhawks finished 18-for-53 (34%) from the floor, but a rough 2-for-24 (8.3%) from three. From the foul line, they capitalized on 19 of 23 attempts (82.6%).

On the other side, the Pioneers finished 18-for-67 (26.9%) from the field, 5-for-22 (33.3%) from deep and made it to the free-throw line 22 times, making 19 (86.4%).

Two Redhawks ended the game in double figures, with yet another big game from Joe Starzynski, who led the team with 16 points to go alongside seven rebounds, three assists and four blocks.

Isaiah Thomas also hit four double digits, scoring 13 points while also adding seven rebounds.

La Roche has one final AMCC matchup in the 2024 portion of the schedule and it comes on Wednesday, Dec. 11 when they face Penn State Behrend on the road. Opening tip is slated for 7 p.m.