OBERLIN, OH – Jordan Holmes and Dylan Lambert combined for 39 points on the day, as the Houghton Highlanders picked up their first win of the season, 78-64, over the Washington & Jefferson Presidents.
 
Houghton opened the throttle early, leading by 13 midway through the first half and as many as 19 minutes later.
 
The Presidents kept things close throughout the second half, eventually trimming the Highlanders' lead to five points with just under seven minutes to play.  Houghton, however, quickly answered with an 8-0 run to bump the gap back to 13 points.
 
In the remaining minutes, W & J would draw no closer than 10 points, as Houghton sank 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 78 | Washington & Jefferson – 64
Records: Houghton: 1-8 | Washington & Jefferson: 5-8
Venue: Phillips Gymnasium, Oberlin College | Attendance: 98

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton shot 48.1% (26-54) from the field, including 46.7% (7-15) from long range; W & J shot 31.3% (21-67) from the field, and only 23.7% (9-38) from beyond the arch.
 
>> Holmes finished with 20 points and four rebounds, while Lambert collected his first double-double of the season with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.  Lambert now has 1,439 for his career, leaving him only 70 points behind Darren Berkley ('93) for fifth place on the Highlanders' all-time scoring list.
 
>> Darren Clark and Scottie Berghaus chipped in 11 and 10 points apiece, respectively, for the Highlanders.
 
>> Nicholas Campalong led the Presidents with 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and five steals.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"I'm happy for our guys.  They have been bringing their hard hats every day.

"We focused on keeping our heads, enduring hardship, doing the right thing, and fulfilling our mission.  Our mission was simple: get a stop, get a score.  Those were the only results that mattered.

"Our balanced scoring was key tonight.  Dylan gets a lot of attention, and he does a great job of making his teammates better.

"I was proud of Jordan [Holmes] for staying resilient and breaking through for us.  He hit some big shots to spark a run in the second half.

"[Isander Ramos-Net] and Darren [Clark] made winning decisions in transition that allowed us to maintain a lead when we were struggling in the half court.

"Tony [Deadmon] and Akil [Grampus] brought great energy off the bench.

"We need to improve defensively, especially limiting second chance points, but we will continue to keep a growth mindset and attack every day to get better.

"This was a great team win.  I'm looking forward to getting back to the lab on Monday." -Coach Corky McMullen
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders open Empire 8 conference play next Friday, January 4 when they travel to Pittsford, NY to challenge the St. John Fisher Cardinals at 7:30 p.m.