Score: College of Mount Saint Vincent 64 - Elmira College 52
Records: Mount Saint Vincent (2-6), Elmira (2-6)
Location: Fleet Gymnasium - Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Second-year guard Justin Porrett '19 tied for the game-high with 18 points, but his offensive efforts were not enough in tonight's opening-round game of the Luck Stone Holiday Tournament, as the Elmira College men's basketball team dropped a 64-52 decision to the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Porrett, who also finished with team highs of seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, scored 14 of his season-high 18 points in the second half.
 
Elmira struggled to find its shooting touch from the field in the opening 20 minutes of action, making just 6-of-23 field goal attempts (26.1%), including a 4-for-12 mark from 3-point range. EC's struggles from the floor resulted in a 28-22 halftime deficit.
 
Third-year sharpshooter Hayden Harkins '18 paced the Soaring Eagles in the first half with nine points. All nine of Harkins' points came from the 3-point arc, as the Tampa, Florida, native drained 3-of-6 attempts from distance.
 
Following the halftime break, the Dolphins of Mount Saint Vincent quickly pushed their lead to eight points in the first 12 seconds with a layup from Andrew Curiel. However, Elmira pieced together a 16-7 run, capped by a three-ball from Porrett, to claim its first lead of the game at the 12:28 mark, 38-37.
 
Fueling the Elmira run was second-year swingman, Anthony Abate '19, who scored nine of EC's 16 points, including an old-fashioned 3-point play. Porrett also scored five points during EC's 16-7 rally, while the reigning Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Week, Kyle McCreery '20, chipped in with two points.
 
Elmira's lead lasted all but 31 seconds, as MSV's Jesse Regina knocked down a 3-pointer, his only attempt of the night, to give the Dolphins a one-point edge. EC's Justin Ruback '18 answered for the Soaring Eagles with a tip in at the 11:13 mark to knot things back up at 40-40.
 
From there, the two teams traded buckets until the Dolphins took a 47-45 lead with 8:10 to play in regulation. Unfortunately for Elmira, this is where their offense slowed down and eventually led to a double-digit defeat.
 
In the closing eight minutes, Elmira's was just 1-of-10 from the floor (10.0%). Of EC's 10 shots, five were from 3-point range, but the Purple and Gold failed to make any of those attempts. The only shooting success Elmira had during that time came from the free-throw line, an area that EC excelled at by stroking 5-of-6 attempts.
 
Elmira's subpar shooting from the floor, combined with consistent scoring from the Dolphins, resulted in a 64-52 win for MSV.
 
Turning Point
After closing an eight-point second-half gap, Elmira took its first lead of the game at the 12:28 mark at 38-37. Eventually, the Dolphins would go up 47-45 with 8:10 remaining in regulation. Elmira's second attempt at a second-half comeback came up short though, as the team's shooting suffered greatly in the final eight minutes. EC went 1-for-10 from the field in the closing eight minutes, including a 0-for-5 mark from 3-point range.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira knocked down 16-of-46 shots from the field (34.8%).
• EC was 5-for-19 from 3-point range (26.3%).
• The Soaring Eagles struggled from the free throw line, connecting on 15-of-26 attempts (57.7%).
• Mount Saint Vincent made 25-of-55 of its attempts from the floor (45.5%).
• MSV went 3-for-10 from 3-point land (30.0%).
• The Dolphins were 11-for-17 from the charity stripe (64.7%).
• Mount Saint Vincent won the battle of the boards, 37-31.
• Neither team protected the ball well; Elmira committed 18 turnovers to MSV's 17.
• MSV made 10 steals, while Elmira made six.
• Porrett led Elmira with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Harkins and Abate each chipped in with nine points.
• Elmira's bench contributed with 12 points, five coming from Connor Bays '18.
• Three MSV players finished with double-digit points.
• Ammad Alkhulaidi led the Dolphins with 18 points.
• Matthew Sowah and Austin Mick added 11 points apiece.

 
News and Notes

• After opening the year with an even 2-2 record, Elmira has dropped to 2-6 on the year.
• Elmira was held to 52 points, its second-lowest point total of the year.
• Elmira has committed 18 turnovers in back-to-back games.
• EC forced 17 MSV turnovers, a season-best for the Soaring Eagles.
• Six of the 17 turnovers came as a result of Elmira steals.
• EC's six steals were a season high.
• Porrett's 18 points and seven rebounds were both season highs.

 
Up Next
Elmira wraps up the 2016 calendar year tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m., as the Soaring Eagles battle Messiah College in the consolation round of the Luck Stone Holiday Tournament in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia.