Score: Pennsylvania College of Technology 87, Elmira College 80
Records: Penn College (1-3), Elmira (1-3)
Location: Bardo Gymnasium – Williamsport, Pa.
                                                   
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The Elmira College men's basketball team's second-half comeback attempt came up just short in the Soaring Eagles' 87-80 defeat at the hands of the Pennsylvania College of Technology on Tuesday evening in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

EC was led by the outstanding performance of Henry Cuffee '19, who tallied a career-best 25 points and a career-high-tying 12 rebounds, his fourth consecutive double-double of the season. Hayden Harkins '18 was Elmira's next-highest scorer, as he tallied 23 points with seven 3-pointers. Justin Porrett '19 put up an all-around performance with 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

The Soaring Eagles came out of the gates hot in the first half to take an early advantage. EC's largest lead in the first was 10, 17-7, after Jesse Adelson '20 sank a trey with 14:36 remaining in the half. Elmira held on to this advantage for much of the period, until the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run to end the half, giving them a 38-37 lead of their own heading into the halftime break.

The start of the second half favored Penn College, as it started the period on another 7-0 run to expand its lead to eight points, 45-37. The Wildcats continued to pressure in the second, growing their advantage to as high as 14 points, 71-57, after Ben Sosa fast-break layup with a shade over nine minutes left in regulation.

It was at that point, that the Soaring Eagles started to heat up. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Isiah Charles '21 and Cuffee cut the EC deficit to just eight points, 71-63, with a little over eight minutes remaining. Elmira continued to chip away after the four-minute mark, as it went on an 8-0 run to draw the margin back to just four points, 79-75, with 2:35 left on the clock. Harkins was the main catalyst for the run, as he made a pair of treys in the stretch, two of his five in the second half.

Despite taking back the momentum in the contest, the Soaring Eagles were unable to wrestle the lead back from the Wildcats. EC's biggest detriment in the half was the incredible shooting shown by Penn College. The Wildcats shot a scorching 18-for-30 (60.0 percent) from the floor and 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) from 3-point range in the final 20 minutes. Elmira, on the other hand, went 16-for-34 (47.1 percent) from the field and 9-for-20 from deep (45.0 percent).

This impressive shooting and some clutch free throws helped Penn College end the game on an 8-5 run, which sealed an 87-80 non-conference loss for the Soaring Eagles.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira falls to 1-3 on the season.
• Penn College's field goal (54.2 percent) and 3-point shooting (50.0 percent) percentages are both the highest by an EC opponent this season.
• Tonight's bout was the first all-time meeting between the Soaring Eagles and the Wildcats.
• For the second consecutive game, Elmira recorded at least 20 assists.
• EC's 44 3-point attempts tonight are the most that it has taken in over 17 seasons.  
• With 25 points and 12 rebounds tonight, Cuffee has now posted a double-double in all four games this season.
• Cuffee's 25 points are a new career high for the junior.
• Cuffee's 12 boards tied a career high.
• With seven 3-pointers tonight, Harkins passed Neil Randolph '15 (196) for sole possession of third place on EC's all-time 3-pointers made leaders with 198 in his career.
• Harkins came up just one point shy of tying his career-best point total of 24.
• Charles' six points tonight are a new season high for the freshman.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to shake off today's defeat this weekend, when the Soaring Eagles welcome the Bloodhounds of John Jay College to Speidel Gymnasium for a non-conference bout on Sunday, November 26. Opening tip for the contest is scheduled to take place at 2:00 p.m.