HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Trailing by one point with less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Houghton Highlanders could not convert on four consecutive possessions, falling to the Hartwick Hawks at home, 56-53.
 
The Highlanders opened up a 10-point lead early in the second half, only to see the Hawks triangle press swing the pendulum in their favor seven minutes later.
 
Houghton trimmed a six-point Hartwick lead to one inside of two minutes, but could not take the lead.
 
Game Vitals
Score: Houghton – 53 | Hartwick – 56
Records: Houghton: 7-12 (2-8 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 13-7 (6-5 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 252
 
Key Moments
>> After taking a four-point lead into the half, the Highlanders opened the second half scoring as Phil Pellegrino converted an alley-oop pass from Johnathan Stowe.  After Dylan Lambert sank a pair of free throws, Stowe found Pellegrino again to extend the Houghton lead to ten.
 
>> Over the next five minutes the Hawks caught fire, reeling off an 18-3 run that Joey Lufkin capped with a jumper just outside the key.
 
>>The Highlanders battled back, keeping the game within five points the rest of the way. 
 
Down by four with 1:45 remaining on the clock, John Nelson found a cutting Pellegrino, who sank the layup as he was fouled, then converted the free throw to bring the Highlanders within one.
 
>> Multiple clutch stops gave the Highlanders several open looks in the time that remained, but turnovers and missed shots kept the purple and gold from the win.
 
Key Stats
>> The Highlanders owned the glass, outrebounding the Hawks, 53-31, but 21 Houghton turnovers proved the difference in the game.  The Hawks committed only eight turnovers and scored 22 points off turnovers while the Highlanders did not score a point from their takeaways.

>> Dylan Lambert scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Stowe turned in his tenth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards. 
 
>> John Nelson pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds for the Highlanders while Pellegrino and Jordan Scott chipped in 11 points apiece.
 
>> Lufkin and Brandon LaForest led the Hawks with 16 and 15 points apiece, respectively.  LaForest also collected seven rebounds and six steals.

Coach's Corner
"The guys played hard.  I'm really proud of our effort. 
 
"We dominated the boards and played really good defense.  When you outrebound a team by 22 you should win the game.
 
"John Nelson was an absolute presence on the defensive end.  He guarded one-through-five and was all over the place.
 
"Unfortunately, we did a poor job of taking care of the ball, especially in the second half.  You just can't turn the ball over 21 times and expect to win." –Coach Corky McMullen
 
Next Time Out
The Highlanders travel to Elmira College tomorrow to take on the Soaring Eagles at 4:00 p.m.  In their prior meeting this season the Highlanders defeated Elmira 84-73, at the Nielsen Center.