HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- A last-second 3-pointer at the buzzer missed the mark, an attempt that could have won the game for the Elmira College men's basketball team, but instead the Soaring Eagles (1-4, 1-4 E8) fell short in Empire 8 Conference action to Houghton College (1-4, 1-4 E8), 59-57.
 
Elmira led by as many as 10 points in the first half, and as much as five midway through the second stanza, but the Highlanders rallied down the stretch to secure their first win of the season. Houghton took the lead with a pair of free-throws from Darren Clark at 4:44 of the second half and never relinquished the lead from that point on, outscoring Elmira by a narrow 9-7 margin.
 
Trailing 59-54 with 26 seconds left in regulation, senior Joseph Amoddio '21 narrowed the deficit to two points with a lay-in and was fouled on the play for an and-one opportunity. Amoddio's free-throw attempt clanked off of the front iron but kicked right back to him for the put-back attempt. The senior forward couldn't get the attempt to fall as Jujuan Preaster pulled in the rebound for the Highlanders with 13 seconds on the clock.
 
Houghton called a timeout after grabbing the board, and was forced to call a second timeout after failing to inbound the ball. Following the second timeout, Elmira elected not to foul in hopes of causing a turnover with a full-court press and did just that as Jarret McCarley lost the ball out of bounds with five seconds left.
 
Following an Elmira timeout, Shawn Backus '21 received the inbounds pass and drove into the paint with a defender draped on his left shoulder. Backus drew in a defender, leaving Isiah Charles '21 open for a 3-pointer. Charles fired the shot from the wing but could not get it to fall as time expired.
 
Rashaad Nurse '22 paced the Purple and Gold's offense with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a 4-for-5 mark from the free-throw line. The Queens, New York, native also registered five rebounds, one steal, and one block.

Kyle Kokoskie '22 logged 40 minutes of action at the point guard position, the most by any player on Tuesday night. The Glen Gardner, New Jersey, native added 11 points, three assists, one steal, and one rebound.
 
On the boards, Quintel Clements '22 pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. He also chipped in four points. Amoddio logged six rebounds, six points, two blocks, and one steal.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira was 20-for-60 (33.3%) from the field and 4-of-15 (26.7%) from 3-point range.
• EC knocked down 13-of-19 (68.4%) free-throws.
• Houghton went 20-of-51 (39.2%) from the floor and 5-for-15 (33.3%) from 3-point range.
• The Highlanders were 14-of-21 (66.7%) from the charity stripe.
• Houghton held a 45-30 lead in rebounds.
• Elmira forced 20 Houghton turnovers, resulting in 22 points off of turnovers.
• Nurse tied his season high with 14 points.
• Kokoskie matched his season high with 11 points.
• Clements pulled down a season-high seven rebounds.
• Amoddio registered a season-high six boards.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to the hardwood on Wednesday, March 17, when they welcome the Gators of Sage College to Speidel Gymnasium for a 6:00 p.m. conference showdown.