ROCHESTER, NY – Twenty-two points from Houghton's Jordan Holmes was not enough to overcome 21 three-pointers from the Southern Virginia Knights, as they defeated the Highlanders on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Chuck Resler Invitational Basketball Tournament, 100-77.
 
The Knights knocked down 21-of-47 shots (44.7%) from long range, including 11-of-19 (57.9%) in the second half.
 
After Southern Virginia grabbed a commanding lead early in the first half, Houghton battled back, trimming the deficit to only three points following back-to-back three-pointers by Sisan Tuedor and Andrew Wright. 
 
The Knights, however, would control the remainder of the first half, taking a 10-point lead into the break. 
 
Through the opening minutes of the second half the game remained fairly even, but Southern Virginia eventually caught fire, swelling the lead to 30 points just past the midway point and maintaining a sizeable advantage throughout the closing minutes.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 77 | Southern Virginia – 100
Records: Houghton: 0-2 | Southern Virginia: 2-0
Venue: Louis Alexander Palestra, University of Rochester | Attendance: 75

NOTABLE STATS
>> Holmes went 8-for-15 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the line, while collecting six rebounds.
 
>> Billy McCrae added 13 points and eight boards for the Highlanders
 
>> Conner Marchant paced the Knights with 22 points, including six threes, and five assists, while teammate Aaron Leavitt posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
Houghton will return to the University of Rochester tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to take on the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons, who lost to the host University of Rochester Yellowjackets, 79-53.