ROCHESTER, NY – The Houghton Highlanders nearly pulled off the impossible on Friday night, but eventually fell to the host University of Rochester in the opening round of the Chuck Resler Tournament, 73-64. 
 
With only 9:18 remaining in the game, the Highlanders trailed the Yellowjackets by 31 points.  Then Isander Ramos-Net sank a layup and Dylan Lambert drilled a three, sparking the beginning of a flurry of Houghton baskets.  By the time the clock had ticked to 1:00 the Highlanders had pulled within 10 points, 60-70.
 
In the waning seconds, Darren Clark drained a layup and Jon Burns nailed a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to only seven points, but the Yellowjackets sank a pair from the line and Houghton ran out of time.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 64 | Rochester – 73
Records: Houghton: 0-2 | Rochester: 2-0
Venue: Louis Alexander Palestra, University of Rochester | Attendance: 450

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton shot 55% (17-31) from the field, 40% from beyond the arch (6-15) and a perfect 7-for-7 from the line in the second half, a dramatic improvement from the first 20 minutes, when they shot 28%/19%/50%.
 
>> While Rochester won the overall turnover battle, 17-12, Houghton committed only six turnovers in the second half while the Yellowjackets committed seven.
 
>> Dylan Lambert led the Highlanders with 22 points and eight rebounds.  Jordan Holmes also chipped in nine points and four assists.
 
>> Jacob Wittig scored 18 points for the Yellowjackets, and Michael Magnan contributed eight points and five assists.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"I'm proud of our guys for staying connected.  It would've been easy to shut it down when were down big.  That's been a consistent characteristic of this group of men.  They are a resilient group, they represent the right things and that's exactly why I love coaching them.
 
"Rochester is an excellent basketball team.  They are very well-coached and very disciplined.  When we executed well a lot of good things happened, specifically in the first 10 minutes and in the last 10 minutes of the game.
 
"We got a little sloppy late in the first half, but good teams will do that to you.  I thought we stayed above the line in our response. 
 
"We will learn from this game and get better.  I'm excited to toss it up and compete again tomorrow." –Head Coach Corky McMullen
 
UP NEXT
Houghton will return to the University of Rochester tomorrow to take on Cabrini University, who lost to Baldwin Wallace, at 2:00 p.m.