Score: Columbia University 102, Elmira College 63
Records: Elmira (3-8), Columbia (5-9)
Location: Levien Gymnasium -- New York, N.Y.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's basketball team traveled to the Big Apple for an exhibition contest against Columbia University on Saturday afternoon. In the final non-conference game of the season, the Soaring Eagles were defeated by the Ivy League affiliate, 102-63.

Jesse Adelson '20 led Elmira with 15 points, as the junior guard finished 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from 3-point range. Senior Justin Porrett '19 also reached double figures with 12 points in addition to four rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Henry Cuffee '19 made a trio of 3-point field goals for nine points, followed by Shawn Backus '21 and Mason Weir '21 with eight and seven points, respectively.

Both teams performed well from beyond the arc. The Soaring Eagles recorded the higher field-goal percentage at 50.0 from 3-point range (12-of-24), while the Lions made 15-of-34 attempts for a 46.9 3-point field goal percentage. Of the 18 shots made by EC, two-thirds were taken from downtown.

The Purple and Gold made their first shot of the game, a 3-pointer from Adelson, to take an early 3-2 lead. It was the start of a robust shooting display by both sides, as the Soaring Eagles scored their next nine points on 3-point makes. Cuffee drained back-to-back treys, followed by a 3-pointer from Weir at the 11:32 mark of the opening half.

However, as turnovers piled up for the Elmira offense, Columbia was able to capitalize on the other end of the court; the Lions netted 35 points off of turnovers throughout the contest.

Leading 51-31 at halftime, the Lions widened the gap by holding EC off of the scoreboard for the first 3:16 of the second half as part of a 13-1 run. Porrett and Cuffee provided a spark to help the offense snap out of the lull with 3-pointers that propelled the Soaring Eagles into a 10-7 run of their own over a span of 4:45. Adelson connected twice more from distance in the second half, while Weir sunk his second trey of the afternoon and Anthony Abate '19 added a 3-pointer before time expired.

News and Notes

• The exhibition game at Columbia does not count towards the standings for Elmira.
• Today's contest is the second against a Division I opponent for the Soaring Eagles in the past two years.
• EC's 50.0 3-point field-goal percentage is its second-best of the 2018-19 campaign.
• Elmira is just the third team to record a 3-point field-goal percentage of 50.0 percent or higher against Columbia this season.
• Billy Smith '20 and Paul Kelleher '22 saw their first action of the season against the Lions.
• Adelson was one 3-pointer shy of his single-game season high with five.

Up Next
With non-conference play in the rearview mirror, the Soaring Eagles will return to Speidel Gymnasium to host St. John Fisher College in Empire 8 Conference action on Tuesday, January 15, at 7:30 p.m.