HOUGHTON, NY – Jordan Holmes and Dylan Lambert combined to score 51 points, but the Wells Express pulled ahead in the waning minutes to defeat the Houghton Highlanders, 77-71, on Wednesday night. 
 
After trailing by as many as eight points in the second half, the Highlanders battled back to take the lead on a Holmes layup with 7:33 remaining. 
 
The two teams exchanged baskets before Wells finally regained a five-point advantage with less than four minutes to play.
 
Akil Grampus cut the deficit to three with a pair of free throws and Houghton grabbed the rebound after a Wells miss on the other end.  A missed Highlander three-pointer and an Express rebound, however, started the foul-free-throw game, and the Express sank six in a row from the line down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 71 | Wells – 77 
Records: Houghton: 0-5 | Wells: 1-3
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 116

NOTABLE STATS
>> Lambert eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fourth consecutive game, scoring 26 points, grabbing nine and dishing out four assists.  He now has 1,326 points during his Houghton career, 24 points away from 6^th place (Harold Spooner) on the all-time Highlander scoring list.
 
>> Holmes posted a new career-high 25 points, knocking down 11-of-18 shots, and added eight rebounds and four assists.  He has reached double-digit scoring totals in four of the team's five games this season.
 
>> Houghton went a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line. 
 
>> Rich Ross and Jalen Tribble led the Express with 18 and 17 points apiece, respectively.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We gave a great effort tonight – the opposite of our last game – we really competed.
 
"We had a few hiccups defensively, but we did a really good job on Rich Ross.  He's a very good player.   
 
"When we executed, good things happened.  Down the stretch I thought we executed well.  We had open looks; we just didn't hit them. 
 
"Jordan [Holmes] and Dylan [Lambert] hit some big shots for us down the stretch.  They really carried us.  Akil Grampus also gave us some really great minutes off the bench.  We need to use him more.
 
"I'm excited to get back to work tomorrow." –Head Coach Corky McMullen
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Buffalo on Monday, December 3 to square off with the Hilbert Hawks.  Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.