Score: John Jay College 77, Elmira College 66
Records: John Jay (2-1), Elmira (1-4)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A rough shooting afternoon by the Elmira College men's basketball team led to a 77-66 loss for the Soaring Eagles in non-conference action against the Bloodhounds of John Jay College at Speidel Gymnasium on Sunday.

EC's shooting struggles lasted the entire game, as it went 23-for-64 (35.9 percent) from the field and 8-for-31 (25.8 percent) from 3-point range. The Bloodhounds, on the other hand, shot 26-for-51 (51.0 percent) from the field. The Soaring Eagles were also hindered by turnovers, as it committed 17 in the contest, compared to John Jay's nine.

Leading EC was sophomore guard Jeremy Every '20, who tallied a team-leading 19 points and a career-best eight rebounds. Justin Porrett '19 also had a well-rounded performance in today's game, as he scored 13 points and dished out 10 assists, his second double-double of the year. Finishing second on the team in scoring was Hayden Harkins '18, who tallied 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting from behind the arc.

The Bloodhounds got off to a quick start in today's bout, taking a 9-0 lead after the first 2:54 of play. The quick flurry was fueled by forward Hakeem Animashaun, who scored the team's first six points, six of his 12 in the half.

Despite finding themselves down early, the Soaring Eagles battled back, drawing the deficit back to just one point multiple times in the first 12 minutes. EC took its first lead of the afternoon, 29-28, at the 3:36 mark of the first half after back-to-back 3-pointers by Kyle McCreery '20 and Harkins. The Elmira advantage grew to as high as three points after an Every layup, two of his 10 points in the half, with 2:35 remaining in the period.

The Purple and Gold's advantage did not last long, however, as John Jay ended the half on a 4-0 run to reclaim the lead, 37-33. The Bloodhounds' main advantage in the half with their ability to get to the foul line, as they finished the first 20 minutes 7-for-12 from the charity stripe, while EC got to the line just five times, making four of them.

Just like it had done to start the game, John Jay came out firing at the start of the second half, extending its lead to 11 points, 47-36, after a 10-3 run. EC cut the deficit down to six points, 50-44, following a Jesse Adelson '20 three-point play with 14:49 left on the clock.

Unfortunately for Elmira, this would be the closest that it would get, as the Bloodhounds continued their hot shooting to keep the contest out of reach. When it was all said and done, John Jay secured the 77-66 non-conference win.
 
News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles fall to 1-4 on the season following today's loss.
• Elmira's 66 points scored today are a season low for the team.
• EC's .359 field goal percentage is the lowest that the team has shot this year.
• John Jay's nine turnovers are a season low by a Purple and Gold opponent.
• Porrett's 10 assists tied a season high for the junior.
• Porrett's double-double is his second of the season.
• Every's eight rebounds today are a new career high for the sophomore.
• Every's 19 points are the second most he has scored in his career.

 
Up Next
Elmira will next compete on Saturday, January 9, when the Soaring Eagles head to Purchase, New York, to face the Valiants of Manhattanville College. The non-conference bout is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.