ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's basketball team picked up its third consecutive victory for the first time since 2015 with a 86-76 win over the visiting Highlanders from Houghton College on Friday evening. After a dominant half that saw the Soaring Eagles carry a 50-31 lead into the break, the Soaring Eagles were able to overcome a 20-point comeback from Houghton on their way to victory.
 
Bryan Adams '25 continued to impress, pacing the offense with 30 points, 6 rebounds, five steals, and five assists. Along with Adams, three other Soaring Eagles reached double-figures, as Kyle Kokoskie '22 (10 points), Quintel Clements '22 (15 points, 6 rebounds), and Harry Ravitz '23 (13 points, 10 rebounds) all reached double-digit points. Raashad Nurse '22 rounded out the offensive efforts with a 9 points, 8 rebound outing.

JUST THE BASICS:
Location: Elmira, New York | Speidel Gymnasium
Score: Elmira: 86, Houghton: 76
Records: Elmira: (5-11, 3-4 Empire 8), Keuka (1-15, 1-6 Empire 8) 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After Clements scored the opening bucket of the game at the 19:02 mark, the Soaring Eagles were off and running, beginning the game on an 8-2 run. After the Highlanders were able to pull to as close as one point (21-20), Elmira jumped out to a 11-0 run with the help of Nurse & Adams who both knocked down a shot from beyond the arc.
 
After Houghton pulled within six at 3:49, the Soaring Eagles concluded the half on a 15-2 run, increasing their lead to 19 as the game headed to halftime.
 
In the opening half, the Soaring Eagles converted on 20-of-37 shots (54.1%) which included a 6-of-12 effort from beyond the arc. Houghton was unable to get going from deep in the half, knocking down just 2-of-15 shots.
 
After Clements increased the EC lead to 21 on a made bucket to begin the half, the Highlanders used the next 17 minutes of play to pull within just a pair of points. Leading 74-72, the Soaring Eagles converted on critical buckets before the Highlanders were forced to foul. Kokoskie finished the scoring with a pair of free throws to send the Soaring Eagles away with a 10-point victory.   

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the floor tomorrow afternoon when they take on the Wolves from Keuka for the second time in just five days. Tip is set for 4:00 PM from the campus of Keuka.