Justin Porrett '19 kicked off his junior campaign averaging team highs in points (18.7), assists (6.7) and steals (2.7) per game, in addition to hauling in an average of 7.0 rebounds per contest. He was one rebound shy of a double-double in the first two games of the season – a hard-to-swallow loss on a last-second 3-pointer versus Keuka and a 108-105 overtime defeat against Keystone – but logged one with 26 points and 10 assists in the consolation round of the EC Tip-Off Tournament in a 103-90 victory over perennial region power Oswego State. As a result, he garnered All-Tournament Team accolades.
In the season opener at Keuka, Porrett filled the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. The 6-foot-1-inch point guard followed that performance up with 18 points, 13 of which came in the second half, to go along with nine boards, five assists and a pair of steals in the overtime heartbreaker against the Giants. Porrett's best game of the week helped guide the Soaring Eagles to the signature win over the Lakers, who have qualified for the past three NCAA Tournaments. He dished out seven of his 10 dimes in the opening half, but scored all of his career-high 26 points in the second half to spark the win. He netted Elmira's final nine points, all from the foul line in the final 1:42 of regulation, to seal the game.
The third-year guard from Dumont, New Jersey, leads all players in the Empire 8 Conference in assists (20) and assists per game (6.7), while ranking second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.3) and steals per game (2.7). Porrett is also among the conference's top-10 leaders in both points (18.7) and rebounds (7.0).
The EC men will look to ride Porrett's hot hand on Tuesday, November 21, when the Soaring Eagles visit the Wildcats of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The non-league matchup will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m. in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
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