AURORA, N.Y. -- Brandon Camacho (Dundee, NY, Dundee High School) and Johnathan Stowe (Toronto, ON, Canada, Don Mills Collegiate Institute) each scored 20 points and four players reached double figures in scoring to lead Houghton men's basketball to a 95-80 win over Wells College on the road Saturday.

It was the third-straight game the Highlanders surpassed 90 points as the improved to 2-1 on the year. Wells dropped to 1-1.

The early stages of the game were back and forth, with neither team gaining much of an advantage. Wells jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the game's first 1:30, Houghton responded to even the score less than a minute later, and the teams continued to exchange baskets and the lead over the next 10 minutes.

With Wells ahead 26-24 at the 8:42 mark, Phil Pellegrino (Rochester, NY, Alfred University) hit a three and layup, Jordan Scott nailed another trifecta, and Zdravko Bogdanoski (Skopje, Macedonia, Southpointe High School) sank a jumper to give Houghton an eight-point advantage. A Wells free throw broke the run, but Pellegrino drilled another three to put the lead to 37-27 with 5:54 left in the half.

Well slowly chipped away at the lead before edging ahead 43-42 with 2:19 left. Houghton regained a one-point advantage (46-45) at the halftime break. The Highlanders hit 51 percent of their shots from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while the Express converted on 53 percent.

After Wells started the second half with a three to gain a two-point advantage, Stowe hit a layup to tie the score at 48 and Dylan Lambert (Amherst, NY, Williamsville North) nailed a three to give Houghton a lead they would not relinquish. Houghton pushed the lead to seven before Wells closed the deficit back to one (65-64) with 11:10 left. But the freshman Lambert answered with a layin, responded to a Wells two with one of his own, and then answered another Wells two with a three pointer to keep the lead at four. Wells couldn't convert on their next two possessions and the sharp shooting of Camacho slammed the door on any more Express runs. The senior guard scored nine-straight points with two three pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play to push the Houghton lead to 81-68 with 7:24 on the clock.

The lead ballooned to as many as 21 down the stretch.

In addition to the 20-point performances from Camacho and Stowe, Lambert finished with 17 points while pulling down 10 rebounds, and Pellegrino added 14 points. Antonio Deadmon (Dallas, TX, Texas Southern) contributed eight points and eight rebounds.

"The contributions from our bench were huge tonight, especially as Tyler was in foul trouble and held scoreless," said Houghton Head Coach Drew Hannan. "Dylan, Zdravko, and John Nelson were instrumental in our win and fending off a very talented, determined Wells team during their run in the second half. It was also good to see Camacho find his stride this game as he scored in a variety of ways.

"We have to do a better job handling pressure and guarding the ball, but right now we are getting plays when we need them and getting them from all different people. It's great to see the guys playing together, sticking together, and finding a way to win together."

Houghton finished the night shooting 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from long range. The Express shot 45 percent overall and 44 percent from three. Houghton outrebounded Wells, 45-36.

The Highlanders return home for their next contest as they host Villa Maria on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m.