Cleveland, OH – The Elmira College men's basketball team basketball fell to host Case Western Reserve, 70-56, Friday evening in the opening round of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Memorial Tournament in Cleveland. The loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 0-2 overall, while the win improves the Spartans to 1-1 overall.

Kurt Dutcher '14 (Gaylord, MI -- Gaylord) knocked down a jumper on EC's first possession of the game but then the Spartans went on a 10-0 spurt to take an early eight point lead. After a Dutcher trey and three baskets inside from Eric Pries '15 (Fairport, NY -- Fairport) the Purple and Gold regained an 11-10 lead. In a game of runs Case Western responded with a 16-3 run to take a 12 point lead at 26-14. Elmira once again responded with an 11-4 run of their own to trail by just five at intermission, 30-25. Derrick Vogel '14 (Bel Air, MD -- CM Wright) provided five points during the spurt, along with another deuce inside from Pries.

The Spartans led by as many as 11 in the second half but Elmira closed the deficit to three at 55-52 with 3:47 remaining. Case Western responded with a 10-0 run including a trey and two free throws from David Thompson. The Spartans held on to prevail 70-56.

Pries led Elmira inside with 12 points and nine boards. Dutcher and Josh Keys '14 (Bel Air, MD -- CM Wright) added 11 points apiece for the Purple and Gold. The Spartans shot 50 percent from downtown in the game (8-for-16), while the battle on the glass was fairly even (35-32 Case Western). The Soaring Eagles actually outshot the Spartans from the field as they finished at 41 percent.