MORRISTOWN, N.J. - The Soaring Eagles men's basketball team traveled to New Jersey to take on non-conference opponent St. Elizabeth University. Elmira settled into the game in the second half, but an early deficit was too much to overcome as SEU won, 85-66. 

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kelton Brown opened the game's scoring with a putback layup. Baskets from Emmanuel Karkari-Mensah and Tyler Cardello helped put the Soaring Eagles ahead early, but St. Elizabeth responded with a 14-0 run. Brown tried to spark the EC offense with a driving layup, but SEU was relentless and added another 16-4 run. Elmira settled into the game and scored ten unanswered, highlighted by a pair of triples from Karkari-Mensah, to cut their deficit to 13 with five minutes to go in the half. Both sides went into the locker rooms with SEU leading EC, 44-28.

Brown once again got the Elmira offense started in the second half with a driving layup. A 16-3 run by St. Elizabeth extended their lead to 27. From there, EC started to find an offensive rhythm, and they found success in the paint. A 13-0 run from the Soaring Eagles thanks to Jude Wilkins and Brown pulled them to within 14 with just under nine minutes left. Elmira could not find a way to narrow the gap any more as both sides traded baskets down the stretch, ending with an SEU win, 85-66. 

LEADERS
Kelton Brown posted a 25-point, 13-rebound double-double. Emmanuel Karkari-Mensah added 11 points, and Tyler Cardello and Jude Wilkins each chipped in 10 points. 

UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will take on Binghamton University in an exhibition game on Monday, December 29 at 4:00 PM. They will then enter Empire 8 play on Tuesday, January 6 as they visit SUNY Brockport at 7:30 PM.