Score: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 84, Elmira College 76
Records: Elmira (1-5), RPI (3-2)
Location: Louis Alexander Palestra -- Rochester, N.Y.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Four players scored in double figures for the Elmira College men's basketball team on Sunday afternoon in an 84-76 loss against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the second round of the Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown Tournament, hosted by the University of Rochester.

The Soaring Eagles didn't shoot well from the field (32.3 percent) or 3-point range (13.0 percent), but a season-best performance from the charity stripe kept the EC men within striking distance. Elmira made 31-of-36 attempts from the line, marking the first time that the Soaring Eagles have made 30-or-more free throws in over 17 years. Jeremy Every '20 made a career-high 11 foul shots, as part of his 17 points against the Engineers. Shawn Backus '21 also had a career afternoon from the line, as he went a perfect 9-for-9.

As a result, Every finished with 17 points, tying Justin Porrett '19 for the most by a Soaring Eagle in the contest, while Backus secured his second double-double of the year with 13 points and 12 boards. Henry Cuffee '19 also logged double-digit points with 10. 

RPI controlled the game at the start and pulled ahead by 18 points, 29-11, within the first 10-plus minutes of action; however, as play continued EC slowly carved into the lead. That began with a 9-0 run over a span of 1:40. Backus started the rally with an and-one, and following a second-chance bucket by Rashaad Nurse '22, Backus was successful on a pair of foul shots. Kyle McCreery '20 then converted both of his free throws at the 7:54 mark to make it a 29-20 score in favor of RPI.

With the Purple and Gold trailing 33-22, the Porrett completed his first of consecutive and-one tries. Although the senior guard missed the free throw on the second play, his five points in a row chiseled the lead down to 33-27. With 30 ticks left in the half, Jesse Adelson '20 sunk a 3-pointer, but the Engineers received a last-second bucket on the other end to go back up by nine, 45-36, before the halftime whistle.

RPI found a spark to start the second half, rolling out to a 56-40 advantage with an 11-4 run in the first 5:10. The Engineers grabbed their largest lead of the game with a little less than five minutes to play, 75-56, but Elmira managed to make things interesting in the late moments. 

Every capped off an 8-0 EC run with a steal and coast-to-coast layup, and the junior from Sacramento, California, added one of his 11 free throws after being fouled on the play. He then netted the next four points for Elmira to make it a nine-point difference, 81-72, with 37 seconds to go. An RPI turnover on its next possession led to two Porrett free throws, but Kevin Davis halted a last-minute comeback attempt with a layup with nine seconds to play.

News and Notes

• Porrett was named to the Holiday Inn Rochester Downtown All-Tournament Team after averaging 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game over the weekend.
• EC's 31 free throws and 45 rebounds are both single-game season-highs.
• Elmira managed to outrebound an opponent for just the second time in 2018-19, finishing with a plus-six margin.
• Every's 17 points off of the bench are a season high.
• Nurse scored the first two points of his collegiate career and posted season highs in rebounds (6) and blocks (2).

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will play their final home game of 2018 on Wednesday, November 28, when Elmira hosts Keuka College in non-conference action. The opening tip inside Speidel Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.