READING, Pa. -- Junior Omari Ringgold scored a game-high 18 points leading Albright to a 66-59 victory over Alfred in the opening round of the Crowne Plaza Holiday Tournament on Tuesday in the Bollman Center.

With the victory Albright advances to the championship game where it will meet Susquehanna, which defeated Johns Hopkins 72-64 in the other opening round game, at 4 p.m. Alfred will face the Blue Jays in the consolation game at 2 p.m.

Ringgold was 8-of-11 from the floor and hit a crucial three-point basket late in the second half to lead the Lions to the victory.

Alfred had cut a five point Albright lead to 54-52 when Ringgold connected on a three-pointer with 4:26 to play that extended the Lions lead to 57-52.

Thomas Vazzana pushed the lead to 59-52 on a putback before Tyler Seelman hit a three-pointer to trim the lead to 59-55 with 3:38 left to play in the game.

Vazzana and Dalton Cousin exchanged baskets and the Lions made 5-of-6 free throw attempts down the stretch to hold off the Saxons.

Albright, which improved to 4-6 on the season, also received 12 points and five rebounds from DeJuan Smith and 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists from Evan Ward.

Alfred, which dropped to 4-4 on the year, was led by Seelman who had 13 points. Cousin notched 12 points and seven rebounds and Nick Schmidt added 10 points for the Saxons.

Albright shot 53.3 percent from the floor, including 59.1 percent in the second half, to advance to the tournament championship game for the eighth time in nine years.

The game was closely contested throughout as it featured 12 ties and 12 lead changes.

Alfred held a 24-18 lead with 4:36 to play in the first half, but the Lions outscored the Saxons 8-2 to close the half sending the teams into the break knotted at 26-26.