ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's basketball team surged to victory against the visiting Wildcats from Penn College on Monday evening, 103-90. After a solid shooting night which saw the Soaring Eagles post a 34-of-64 effort from the floor (53.1%), Tyler Cardello would finish with a game-best 36 points and 11 rebounds, which included a 13-of-16 mark from the free throw stripe down the stretch. 

Additionally, the Soaring Eagles would post a 12-of-24 (50.0%) mark from beyond the arc, which included a 5-of-6 effort in the second half, as Riley Spencer '26 and Owen Evans '26 each finished with three a piece. 

Spencer would finish with 15 points, Evans with 13, and Marc Anthony Artuz '24 with 11.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 103, Penn College 90
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Speidel Gymnasium
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (4-6, 0-1 Empire 8), Penn College (4-6, 1-1 United East)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Soaring Eagles would come out and take a nine-point lead just 3:33 into the contest following a made three-pointer from Cardello, which began a 5-of-8 start from the floor to begin the contest. 
• Over the next two minutes, the Wildcats would see an 8-0 run, which included three consecutive baskets made to take its first lead of the evening, 13-12. The bucket to put the visitors ahead would be the last lead the Wildcats would see for the evening.
• From there, the Soaring Eagles would finish the opening frame on a 28-21 run, which had Elmira carrying a seven-point lead into the break. 
• For the opening half, Elmira shot 15-of-39 from the floor, compared to a 14-of-37 effort for the Wildcats. Additionally, EC would go 7-for-18 from beyond the arc, compared to just a 2-of-11 clip for Penn College. 
• Leading by seven, the Soaring Eagles would begin the second half on an 8-0 run, which included an and-one from Cardello, a jumper from Artuz, and a made three pointer from Evans to put Elmira ahead by 15. 
• From there, the Soaring Eagles would see its lead increase to as many as 20 points on multiple occasions, but late pressing down the stretch and quick offensive possessions from the Wildcats allowed for the lead to be trimmed to ten with 2:29 remaining in the contest. 
• In the second half, Elmira would convert on 73.1% of its free throws (19-of-26), while also going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc to make the most of its opportunities to take the 103-90 victory. 

UP NEXT:
Elmira returns to Speidel Gymnasium following the Holiday Recess, beginning its home Empire 8 slate against Nazareth University on Friday, January 5 at 7:30 PM.