ELMIRA, N.Y.— After trailing by 14 points with 16 minutes to play, the Houghton Highlanders completed a momentous comeback to defeat the Elmira Soaring Eagles on Friday night, 83-77.
 
Elmira took a seven-point lead into the break and quickly added to it in the opening minutes of the second half.  A three-point play by Rashaad Nurse and a layup by Harry Ravitz gave the Soaring Eagles their largest lead of the game.
 
From that point on Jordan Holmes and Billy McCrae would put the Highlanders, and the game, on their backs. 
 
McCrae followed a three and a layup by Holmes with a dunk, a three, and a layup of his own, cutting the Soaring Eagles lead to two.  After an Elmira basket, McCrae scored on consecutive trips down the floor to tie the game, and Holmes put the Highlanders up for good with another layup at the 10:26 mark.
 
A three-pointer from Scottie Berghaus and a layup from Isaac Dow would cap the Highlanders 23-2 run.
 
With 1:17 left in the game, Isander Ramos-Net hit a jumper that gave the Highlanders a 10-point lead, their largest of the game, but Elmira would continue to battle.  With six second remaining Kyle McCreer sank a fast-break layup to pull the soaring Eagles back within four points, but Scottie Berghaus sank a pair of free throws on the other end to ice the game for the Highlanders.
 
Over the final 16 minutes Houghton outscored Elmira, 44-22, thanks in large part to Holmes and McCrae, who scored 14 and 13 points apiece, respectively.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 83 | Elmira – 77
Records: Houghton: 3-11 (1-2 Empire 8) | Elmira: 1-13 (0-4 Empire 8)
Venue: Speidel Gymnasium, Elmira College | Attendance: 155
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> The two teams combined for only 13 turnovers (nine by Houghton and four from Elmira), season-lows for both teams.
 
>> Holmes finished the night with a game-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds, the fifth time this season he has recorded a double-double.  With his first basket of the night, Holmes hit the 750-point mark for his career.  The junior forward now has 767 total points in just over two-and-a-half years.
 
>> Berghaus finished 6-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-6 from long-range, scoring a season-high 18 points.  McCrae tallied 17 points and six rebounds, the fourth consecutive game in which he has recorded a double-digit point total.
 
>> Ramos-Net turned in perhaps the most well-rounded game for the Highlanders, scoring 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists.
 
>> Shawn Backus led the Soaring Eagles with 18 points, while Nurse added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Jesse Adelson also scored 13 points.
 
UP NEXT
Houghton travels to Oneonta tomorrow to challenge the Hartwick Hawks.  Tip-off time is slated for 3:00 p.m.