Junior transfer Will Engelhardt led all players with 24 points, and junior Trent Adamson posted his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the St. Lawrence University men's basketball team past the Alfred State College 80-67 to open their 2021-22 campaign on Friday night in Alfred, N.Y.

Engelhardt, who went 10-for-17 from the floor including 4-for-9 from behind the arc, also grabbed seven rebounds and two assists. Trey Syroka had 17 points, and shot 90 percent from the free throw line, including going 7-8 in the final three minutes.

In the first half, the Saints jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, all scored by Syroka, but the Pioneers rallied back and eventually took the a 14-13 lead midway through the first half. After a few minutes of back and forth, the Saints went on an 11-3 run capped off by a 3-pointer by junior Liam McDonald to put the Saints up 30-21.

The Saints would not give up the lead for the rest of the game, and held a 40-31 advantage over the Pioneers at halftime.

First-year guard Nathan Schmitt hit a three to start the second half and put the Saints up 12, and the Pioneers were not able to bring the lead to single digits for the rest of the ballgame. Back-to-back Engelhardt 3-pointers gave the Saints their biggest lead of the game at 21.

Alfred State cut the lead to ten with under three and a half minutes to go, but from then on the Saints played stifling defense and went 11-18 from the free throw line to secure the 80-67 victory.

"It was a good start to the season," said head coach Chris Downs. "We've got a lot of work to do and a busy week ahead, we play four games over the next seven days."

41 of the Pioneers' points came from the bench, including 10 apiece from Basheem Wilkerson and Mekhi Belcher.

The Pioneers had committed just 10 turnovers to the Saints' 13, but the Saints shot 50 percent from the field compared to Alfred State's 33% shooting from the floor.

St. Lawrence starts their season 1-0, while Alfred State College falls to 1-1.

The Saints take on the Saxons of Alfred University tomorrow on day two of the Alfred Invite.