GENESEO, NY—A free throw by Dylan Lambert with 31 seconds to play pulled the Houghton Highlanders within two points before the SUNY Geneseo Knights pulled away down the stretch to pull off the victory, 85-78.
 
Geneseo led by as many as 13 points with just over 13 minutes remaining in the game before the Highlanders cleaned up their work on the defensive boards and mounted a furious comeback.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 78 | Geneseo – 85 
Records: Houghton: 3-6 | Geneseo: 5-5
Venue: Schrader Gymnasium, SUNY Geneseo | Attendance: 165

NOTABLE STATS
>> The two teams committed only six turnovers a piece, by far a season-best for both teams.
 
>> While the Knights won the overall rebound battle, 34-28, Houghton showed dramatic improvement in the second half, pulling down 18 of their 28 boards in the final 20 minutes and edging Geneseo, 18-16.
 
>> Houghton's Carl Holmes scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including 18 points in the second half.  His scoring total gives him 50 points over his past two games.  Holmes also grabbed six rebounds and three steals.
 
>> Fellow Highlanders Dylan Lambert added 22 points (13 in the second half) and five assists, while freshman Carter Price knocked down a career high 15 points on five three-pointers.
 
>> Geneseo's Zack Panebianco (19 points, five assists), Quin Carey (18 points) and Tommy Eastman (15 points, nine rebounds, five assists) led the Knights. 
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Hats-off to Geneseo and Coach Minton.  They are a very good basketball team.  They played well together and made some big shots when they needed them.
 
"That being said, our guys were selfless teammates today, too.  We did a lot of good things and gave ourselves a chance to win at the end.
 
"We were poor on the defensive glass in the first half.  We knew that if we cleaned that up that we would have a chance in the end.  I'm proud of our guys for answering the call and controlling the defensive boards in the second half.  We executed well and scratched back into [the game].
 
"Carter Price gave us some mojo early with some big threes, as well as a couple of big shots late.  Carl [Holmes] and Dylan [Lambert] were their usual selves they controlled our pace and made clutch plays when we needed them most. 
 
"Darius Brown gave us great energy off the bench.  He was an animal on the glass.
 
"We're looking forward to Empire 8 play beginning on Tuesday." –Coach Corky McMullen
 
UP NEXT
Houghton opens 2018 with the first conference game of the season, a matchup at cross-county rival Alfred University on January 2 at 6:00 p.m.