Score: Elmira College 82, Houghton College 78
Records: Elmira (6-12, 4-5 E8), Houghton (1-18, 0-8 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium -- Elmira, N.Y.

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's basketball team overcame a five-point halftime deficit with a strong finish in an 82-78 Empire 8 Conference victory over Houghton College on Friday night at Speidel Gymnasium. With the win, the Soaring Eagles swept the two-game series from the Highlanders and remain in the hunt for a postseason berth with a 4-5 conference record.

Elmira's offense was more efficient in the second half, shooting at an overall rate of 48.5 percent (16-of-33) and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Highlanders saw their percentage dip to 37.5 (12-of-32) after logging a sterling 53.3 field-goal percentage (16-of-30) in the first 20 minutes of action.

Although he was limited to four points in the first half, senior point guard Justin Porrett '19 took over the contest in the second half. The Dumont, New Jersey, product logged 17 of his game-high 21 points in 15 minutes of action after the halftime intermission. Reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Week Rashaad Nurse '22 and Jesse Adelson '20 also scored in double figures with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

The Purple and Gold managed to find a groove early in the first half, using a 9-0 run to snap a 16-all tie. The rally began with four consecutive points from Nurse, with both buckets coming on second-chance plays after the freshman collected an offensive board. A Shawn Backus '21 steal-and-score, followed by an Adelson 3-pointer, widened the gap to 25-16 at the 12:00 mark.

Even after the Highlanders evened the score at 25-all, EC clawed back in front with eight in a row, four each coming from Quintel Clements '22 and Porrett. In the final three-and-a-half minutes, however, Houghton held the Soaring Eagles to a pair of foul shots and used the 3-point shot to grab a 42-37 advantage at the break.

In the second half, Elmira erased a 10-point hole to knot the score at 54-54, before regaining the lead for the first time in the period on a 3-point bucket from Mason Weir '21. Porrett then made a pair of free throws and a layup in a span of 20 seconds to expand a 73-70 lead to seven points. Following another Houghton turnover on the ensuing possession, Adelson converted from beyond the arc, as the Soaring Eagles flipped the script to snag a 10-point lead of their own at 80-70.

Houghton didn't go down without a spirited fight in the waning moments. Jordan Holmes tallied three points on a successful and-one inside the final minute. Down by one possession, the Highlander defense needed a stop, but Porrett scored on a putback with eight seconds to play to seal the win.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Randie Torgalski on his conversation with the Soaring Eagles at halftime…
"We just were not playing hard enough, not playing smart enough, and not playing together. We had to get back to the basics, which we did for the most part. Hats off to Houghton for attacking us and playing a great game. They made us look bad at times tonight."

Coach Torgalski on another impressive outing by Empire 8 Rookie of the Week Rashaad Nurse '22…
"Rashaad gives us some inside presence that we have lacked. He also gives us a little attitude, which we have lacked. He makes up for a lack of size with effort and attitude. He is going to be a very good player down the road."

Coach Torgalski on securing a win in the first game of a season-long four-game homestand…
"Wins give confidence. Escaping like we did tonight should calm us down heading into the next three. We've put ourselves into the thick of the conference playoff hunt. Take care of your home court and you have a shot."

News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 6-12 overall and 4-5 against Empire 8 opponents.
• EC is one game above .500 at Speidel Gymnasium at 4-3 with three consecutive home games coming up.
• The Soaring Eagles shot above 40.0 percent in back-to-back games for the first time since doing so in the first two games of the year.
• Elmira won the rebound battle for the fourth time in 2018-19.
• Porrett scored 20-plus points for the fifth time as a senior.
• Nurse finished with a single-game season-high 16 points.
• Adelson has made at least three 3-point field goals in six of the last seven games.
• Clements made all three of his field goals en route to a season-high seven points.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will face Alfred University for the first time this season on Saturday, February 2, at 4:00 p.m. in the second of a season-long four-game homestand at Speidel Gymnasium.