ELMIRA, N.Y. -- An 18-point performance from Shawn Backus '21, along with a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double from Rashaad Nurse '22 was not enough on Friday evening, as the Elmira College men's basketball team came up short in Empire 8 Conference action to Houghton College, 83-77. With the win, the Highlanders improved to 3-11 (1-2 E8) on the year, while the Soaring Eagles dropped to 1-13 (0-4 E8).

Backus was 7-for-13 from the field, and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe, to make up his 18 points. He also pulled down three boards and dished out a pair of assists. Nurse, on the other hand, was 6-for-11 from the floor, and eight of his 11 career-high boards came on the defensive glass. Nurse also produced one assist, one block, and one steal. 

Backus and Nurse were two of three Soaring Eagles in double-digits, as Jesse Adelson '20 added 13 points in an effort off of the bench. Nine of Adelson's points came from 3-point range. He also added four assists and a team-high two steals. 

Kyle Kokoskie '22 paced the Elmira offense with a game-high seven assists. He also chipped in five points and a pair of rebounds. 

For Houghton, four of its five starters finished with double-digit points. The quartet combined for 70 of the team's 83 points, accounting for 84.3% of the team's total offense. Jordan Holmes led the pack of Highlander with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. 

Elmira controlled the first half of play, going up by as many as 18 points, 38-20, with five minutes to play. Houghton ended the first half on a high note by outscoring the Purple and Gold, 17-6, as Elmira entered the break with a 44-37 lead. Adelson provided an offensive spark in the opening half with 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. 

Momentum swung back into Elmira's favor in the second half, as the Purple and Gold opened the half with a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance to cap an 11-4 run and take a 55-41 lead. Backus and Harry Ravitz '23 accounted for eight of EC's 11 points during that span, while Nurse scored three-points the old fashioned way on an and-one opportunity. 

Unfortunately, as well as the Soaring Eagles shot the ball in the opening stages, they were unable to maintain their hot hand. On the other hand, Houghton found its stroke from the floor and locked EC down defensively to produce a 23-2 run to go up 64-57. The Highlander run spanned 8:42 of the half. 

The Highlanders lead ballooned to as many as 12 points, 77-65, but Elmira crept back into the contest and closed to gap to four points, 81-77, with 15 seconds to play. This was as close as it would get, as Houghton held off Elmira for an 83-77 win. 

News and Notes

• Elmira went 31-for-71 (43.7%) from the floor.
• Houghton went 31-for-60 (51.7%) from the field.
• EC was 8-for-28 (28.6%) from 3-point range.
• Houghton was 6-for-18 (33.3%) from 3-point range. 
• EC limited its turnovers to a season-low four. 
• Backus tied his season-high point total with 18. 
• Backus has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. 
• Nurse has produced double-digit points in four straight games.
• Nurse's 11 rebounds were a season and career-high. 
• Kokoskie finished with his second-highest assist total of the season (7). 

Up Next
The Elmira men will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon, when the Soaring Eagles host Alfred University in Empire 8 Conference action. The opening tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. inside Elmira's Speidel Gymnasium.