ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's basketball team dropped an overtime barnburner inside of Speidel Gymnasium on Tuesday evening, falling to the visiting Highlanders from Houghton University, 86-82. Despite a season-high 26 turnovers, the Soaring Eagles battled through a 9-for-28 effort from deep for the Highlanders along with 14 more missed shots.
Four Soaring Eagles would finish the game in double-figures, led by Bryan Adams '25 with 32 points. Quintel Clements '22 would come up one rebound short of a double-double, chipping in 17 points while David Aysho '26 and Tyler Cardello '26 finished with 14 and ten points, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The lead changed five times in the opening half, with the Highlanders beginning the game with a three just ten seconds in. From there, the Soaring Eagles would use a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the contest before a back-and-forth battle through the half. Trailing by five with just under six minutes remaining in the frame, the Soaring Eagles would put together a 11-0 run over the next five minutes to take a six-point lead following an and-one from Bryan Adams '25. Over the final minutes, the teams would trade buckets before the Soaring Eagles ultimately held a two-point lead, 34-32 at the break.
In the opening half, Elmira would shoot 10-of-26 from the floor (38.5%) compared to a 13-of-32 effort for the Highlanders.
During the second half, the EC lead grew to as many as seven points and eventually five with 1:08 remaining before the Highlanders took advantage of a pair of turnovers to knot the game at 78-78 to force overtime.
In the extra period, Elmira would score the first two points before Houghton closed out on an 8-2 run to finish the game.
For the contest, the Soaring Eagles shot 47.5% from the floor on 28-of-59 shooting while the Highlanders converted on 29 of its 73 shots for a game percentage of 39.7%
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 82, Houghton 86 (OT)
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Speidel Gymnasium
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (3-12, 2-6 Empire 8), Houghton (4-11, 3-5 Empire 8)
ELMIRA LEADERS (28-of-59, 47.5% from the floor)
Bryan Adams - 32 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals
Quintel Clements - 17 points, 9 rebounds
Tyler Cardello - 10 points, 7 rebounds
David Aysho - 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks
HOUGHTON LEADERS (29-of-73, 39.7% from the floor)
JaJuan Preaster - 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals
David Rosa - 14 points, 8 rebounds
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return home this weekend to take on the Saxons from Alfred University with a 4:00 PM tip off as part of Athletics Alumni Weekend.
