Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's basketball team fought to the end of this afternoon's contest, but their 2014-15 season-finale resulted in a 67-62 loss to Alfred University. Gino Leonardi '16 and Neil Randolph '15 each tallied 16 points in the defeat.
 
Both players did the majority of their damage from behind the three-point line with Leonardi hitting 4-of-5 and Randolph knocking down 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. Leonardi rounded out his stat-line with three rebounds and one assist, while Randolph turned-in a well-rounded three-rebound, three-block, and two-steal effort in his final game at EC.
 
The five seniors on this year's team, Randolph, Tyler Dibble '15, Jake Metcalf '15, Brian McDonald '15, and David Borelli '15, were the starters for today's game as the quintet took the court within Speidel Gymnasium for the last time together. As a group, they collectively produced 31 of EC's 62 points, 14 of their 37 rebounds, six of Elmira's 12 assists, five of the team's seven steals, and four of their eight blocks.
 
Oladapo Badmos '17 saw his three-game run of double-digit point performances come to an end against the Saxons, scoring just four points, but the sophomore guard still contributed five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Hayden Harkins '18 and Ryan Chocek '18 also impacted the game in their own right, with Harkins scoring eight points, the third-highest scoring total for EC, and Chocek recording two emphatic blocks in the second half as Elmira was working their way back into the game.
 
The Soaring Eagles showed no ill-effect from last night's loss to Ithaca College, which knocked them out of playoff contention, as they started off strong against the Saxons. EC grabbed their first lead at 5-3 and extended their lead to 14-8 after a Leonardi three-pointer with 13:39 left in the opening half. But the Saxons went on a 12-0 run, which spanned five minutes, to take a 20-14 lead.
 
EC chipped into the deficit a bit, but Alfred held that lead for much of the remaining eight minutes of the half. A layup from the Saxons' Eric Adams made it a 28-24 game with 2:13 to play, but the Soaring Eagles would close the half with back-to-back three-pointers from Randolph to take a 30-28 lead into the locker rooms.
 
The Saxons quickly retook the lead at the outset of the second half and although the game remained close, EC was unable to get the lead back. Alfred extended their advantage to 10 points with 8:03 to play, but the Purple and Gold fought their way back to make it just a four point game with 4:01 left in regulation. An Oladapo Badmos'17 free throw made it a 63-60 game with 40 seconds remaining, but the Saxons hit 4-of-6 from the line down the stretch to close out the 67-62 win.
 
The Soaring Eagles conclude their 2014-15 season with a 10-15 overall record and a 7-9 mark in Empire 8 Conference play. EC's seven E8 victories are the most since the 2001-02 season.