PITTSFORD, NY – Turnovers proved the deciding factor in the game, as the Houghton Highlanders lost their Empire 8 conference opener Friday night, falling to the St. John Fisher Cardinals, 70-92, on the road.
 
After trailing by 12 points early in the second half, a Jordan Holmes jump shot capped an 8-0 run, cutting the Cardinals lead to only four.
 
The two teams battled for the next several minutes until Fisher reeled off an 11-2 run of their own to go back up by 15.  Seemingly, for every Houghton basket, the Cardinals would answer on the other end, and the Highlanders would draw no closer than a 13-point deficit for the remainder of the game.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 70 | St. John Fisher – 92
Records: Houghton: 1-9 (0-1 Empire 8) | St. John Fisher: 6-3 (1-0 Empire 8)
Venue: Manning & Napier Varsity Gymnasium, St. John Fisher College | Attendance: 518

NOTABLE STATS
>> Turnovers and rebounding proved vital in allowing St. John Fisher to take 19 more shots than Houghton, including eight more three-point attempts. 
 
While the Highlanders made a greater percentage of their field goal attempts (50% vs. 46%), the Cardinals won the battles of the turnovers (21-12) and the boards (44-26). 
 
Fisher also pulled down 15 more offensive boards, leading to an increased number of shots.
 
>> Dylan Lambert led the Highlanders with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Jordan Holmes added 14 points and two steals.  Lambert now has 1,464 points for his career, leaving him only 45 points behind Darren Berkley ('93) for fifth place on the Highlanders' all-time scoring list.
 
>> James Leone and Sammy Robinson led the Cardinals.  Leone posted 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Robinson collected 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"I thought we executed our defensive game plan pretty well tonight.  We had the right guys taking the shots we wanted and were willing to give them up, but they hit some of those shots in crucial situations.
 
"Turnovers were the difference tonight.  We have to do a better job of possessing the ball.
 
"I'm proud of our fight.  I thought we kept our heads and endured some hardship by cutting the lead to four in the second half.  We responded well but didn't completely fulfill our mission.
 
"A lot of good things are happening.  We'll stay the course.  We are grateful for another opportunity to compete tomorrow." –Coach Corky McMullen
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon to take on the Nazareth Golden Flyers in the second game of a men's/women's Empire 8 doubleheader at 4:00 p.m.