Elmira College (2-8, 0-1 E8) vs. St. John Fisher College (6-3, 0-0 E8)
Friday, January 8, 2016 | 6:00 P.M. | Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
Live Coverage | Twitter: @ECSoaringEagles | Game Notes
 
Elmira College (2-8, 0-1 E8) vs. Nazareth College (5-5, 1-0 E8)
Saturday, January 9, 2016 | 5:00 P.M. | Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
Live Coverage | Twitter: @ECSoaringEagles | Game Notes
 
Elmira, NY – Coming off of a heartbreaking 95-94 overtime loss to Stevens Institute of Technology on Monday, the Soaring Eagles will continue its three-game homestand to open Empire 8 Conference play when they welcome Flower City rivals St. John Fisher and Nazareth for a weekend back-to-back on Friday and Saturday.
 
Last Time Out
The Soaring Eagles are coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss in overtime in their Empire 8 opener against Stevens Institute of Technology. Stevens led the entire second half, going up by as many as seven points, but Gino Leonardi '16 capped an Elmira comeback with a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. The extra five-minute period was just as exciting as the previous 40, as Elmira trimmed a six-point deficit to just one with under 20 seconds to play. However, a pair of made free throws down the stretch by Chris Cosgrove allowed the Ducks to hold on for the win, 95-94.
 
Career Night for Gino
Gino Leonardi '16 has been Elmira's go-to guy this season, and last Monday's bout with Stevens was no different. The senior guard scored a career-high 29 points and was credited with eight assists, which tied his career best. Leonardi also pulled down six boards, made two steals, and had one block. 
 
Henderson Finds his Rhythm
Against Stevens, Justin Henderson '16 had his best shooting and scoring performances of the season. Henderson knocked down a season-high seven three-pointers in the process of scoring a season-high 25 points. His 25-point performance is the second-highest point total of his EC career, while his seven made threes are third-most.
 
Season-High from the Line
In Elmira's game against Stevens Institute of Technology, the Soaring Eagles visited the free throw line a season-high 25 times. EC knocked down 18 of its 25 attempts, which is also the most makes the Soaring Eagles have had from the charity stripe this season.
 
Say What?
The Soaring Eagles posted a .485 shooting percentage in its loss to the Ducks on Monday, as the Elmira men went 33-for-62 from the field. For Elmira, it marked the first time this season the Soaring Eagles fell in a game that EC shot better than its opponents. Dating back to the 2013-14 season, Elmira is 13-3 when posting a higher shooting percentage than its opponent.
 
Season's First
Senior guards Gino Leonardi '16 and Justin Henderson '16 combined for 54 of Elmira's 95 points against Stevens. Leonardi finished with a career-high 29 points, while Henderson logged a season-high 25. For Elmira, the duo's 20-plus point total marks the first time this season the Soaring Eagles have had two players with 20 or more in the same game.
 
Starters Step Up
EC's starting five had an outstanding game on offense in its last outing against Stevens. Elmira's starters scored 78 of the team's 94 points, accounting for 83 percent of the team's scoring. The 83 percent is a season-high for Elmira's starters this season.
 
All-Time Series: St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher owns a decisive 50-14 edge in the all-time series and has won 25 straight entering tonight's contest. Elmira's last win dates back to the 2001-02 season, when the Soaring Eagles claimed a 75-61 victory.
 
Scouting the Cardinals
St. John Fisher College enters tonight's contest with a 6-3 overall record, as it opens its conference schedule against Elmira. The Cardinals have won three of their last four games, including back-to-back double-digit wins at the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa Invitational en route to the tournament title. One area Fisher has excelled at this season has been on the defensive side of the ball, as the Cardinals have held opponents to a conference-leading 66.8 points per game. Fisher also boasts the country's 11th-leading three-point defense, limiting opposing teams to a 26.9% from distance. Although Fisher's defense has been key, its offense has been just as good. The Cardinals have five players with double-digit scoring averages, led by fourth-year guard Tyler Hart's 20.3 points per game.
 
All-Time Series: Nazareth
Elmira and Nazareth have faced each other 60 times dating back to their first meeting in 1978-79. The Golden Flyers have enjoyed their fair share of success in those matchups with a 40-20 record. Nazareth enters the matchup having won the previous 20 meetings. Elmira's last win in the series dates back to the 2004-05 season, when the Purple and Gold used a 40-point second half to score a 71-66 win.
 
Scouting the Golden Flyers
Nazareth College began the 2015-16 season with three consecutive wins but hit a rough patch shortly after, dropping five straight. However, the Golden Flyers were able to snap their five-game skid in their final game of 2015 with a four-point win over Keystone College. Nazareth built-off that momentum and claimed an eye-opening 95-60 road victory over Ithaca College last Tuesday to even its overall record at 5-5. In the win over the Bombers, Mitch Ford paced the Golden Flyers with a monster game of 28 points and 14 rebounds, his national-leading ninth double-double of the season. Ford leads Nazareth this season with a conference-leading 26.2 points per game and 13.2 rebounds per contest, which is also tops in the Empire 8 Conference.
 
Looking Ahead
Elmira returns to action next Tuesday, January 12th, when the Purple and Gold travel to neighboring Ithaca, NY, to face the Bombers of Ithaca College. Tip-off for Tuesday's conference game is set for 6:00 p.m.