Box Score

Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team lost in a prime battle, 63-60, to the Cortland State University Red Dragons Thursday evening at Speidel Gymnasium to open the 2012-13 season. The win improves the Red Dragons to 1-0, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 0-1.

The beginning of the game was controlled by the Soaring Eagles who crashed the boards and looked for easy buckets. Cortland eased its way back to tie it up at 17-17 midway through the first. Two minutes later EC started to pick it up by grabbing offensive boards and working the shot clock. The battle between both teams continued for the rest of the half, but EC was able to take the 29-25 lead into halftime.   

EC continued to hang on to its lead until the 15:08 mark when Jeremy Smith made a three pointer to put Cortland up 33-31. Cortland continued to stretch out its lead over the next six minutes, but EC fought well narrowing the lead back down to two after a Josh Keys '14 tre at the 9:01 mark. EC regained the lead less than a minute later when Matt Newell '14 banked in a three. Cortland was able to tie it up again with 5:20 left in the game and eventually stretch the lead out to six. EC was able to narrow the game to three after some quick fouls and free throw shots, but Cortland would hang on in the end to win 63-60.

Keys led the Soaring Eagles with 15 points and shot 4-for-6 from the three point line. Chris Cassidy '14 finished right behind with 13 points and eight rebounds. Classmates Newell, Kurt Dutcher '14 and Derrick Vogel '14 also played well for EC combining for 24 points, five boards and five assists.

Cortland was able to take advantage of the points off turnovers dominating EC (19-5), but EC dominated in second chance points (15-2) and bench points (28-14). The Soaring Eagles also held a huge 33-17 advantage on the glass, including an impressive 13-2 edge in offensive rebounding, fighting to win the 50-50 balls. Meanwhile, Elmira turned the ball over 17 times, compared to just nine for the Red Dragons. 

The EC Men's Basketball team will return to action next Tuesday, November 20^th hosting Hamilton College at 3:00 p.m. in another non-conference showdown in Speidel Gymnasium.