AFLRED, N.Y.  – The Elmira College men's basketball team suffered a loss at the hands of the Saxons from Alfred University on Tuesday, 67-64. After trailing by as many as nine in the second half, the Soaring Eagles pulled the game within three points on the final possession, but fell just short.
 
Marc Anthony Artuz '24 led all scorers with 18 points, while as a team the Soaring Eagles shot .431% from the floor, its second-highest percentage this season.

JUST THE BASICS:
Location: Alfred, New York | Terry S. Galanis Family Arena
Score: Elmira: 64, Alfred: 67
Records: Elmira: (2-9, 0-2 Empire 8), Alfred (8-3, 1-1 Empire 8) 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Quintel Clements '22 got the Soaring Eagles on the board with a layup from the left-side to begin the game. As the teams battled back and forth at the start, Artuz brought the Soaring Eagles back within one at the 16:20 mark with a three of his own, the first of his 11 opening-half points.  
 
The Saxons tried moving the ball inside to begin the game, but quickly turned to the three-ball as they hit four in the first half. After Harry Ravitz '23 knocked down a jump shot to tie the game at 9-9, Elmira would eventually force the fourth Alfred turnover in the first ten minutes of play to take an 11-9 lead with 13:37 remaining in the opening frame.  
 
As the half wound to a close, the Soaring Eagles would push the ball and retake command as they closed the half on a 18-13 run to bring their deficit to just a pair heading into the half, 34-32.
 
In the opening half, the Soaring Eagles shot 12-of-28 (42.9%) from the floor while the Saxons converted on the same number of shots on two less attempts for (42.6%).
 
Out of the break, the Soaring Eagles and Saxons each came out and combined for four early shots within the interior, with the score eventually tied at 38-38 through four minutes of play.
 
The Saxons used a 7-2 run over the next two minutes of play to retake the lead 45-40. After trailing by as many as nine to begin the second half, the Soaring Eagles fought for buckets inside the paint, while Alfred quieted down from beyond the arc.
 
Trailing by two (57-55) with under seven minutes remaining, a three-ball from Artuz helped Elmira get within one following a made jumper by the Saxons. As the teams battled, the Soaring Eagles found themselves down just a pair, 64-62, with under two minutes remaining.
 
Following an Elmira timeout, Alfred would knock down a three, increasing its lead to five. After forcing a turnover, the Soaring Eagles were back on offense as a layup from Clements on an assist from David Kruis '23 had Elmira trailing 67-64 with 12 seconds remaining.
 
On the ensuing Alfred possession, the Soaring Eagles were forced to foul, putting the Saxons in a one-and-one situation in which Adam Enders missed the front end of to keep the Purple & Gold deficit at three.
 
After calling a timeout with seven seconds remaining, the Soaring Eagles were unable to get a shot off on the pursuing inbounds play, falling to the Saxons 67-64.
 
For the game, the Elmira bench provided 34 points, compared to 18 for the Saxons.

ELMIRA LEADERS (25-of-58, 43.1 percent from the field) 
Marc Anthony Artuz - 18 points, 4 rebounds
Quintel Clements -  12 points, 6 rebounds.  

ALFRED LEADERS (26-of-60, 43.3 percent from the field)  
Casey Curran – 13 points, 9 rebounds
Darren Miller – 9 points, 9 rebounds
 
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles will return to conference play at home on Friday, Jan. 14 as they battle Nazareth. Tip is set for 7:30 PM.