HOUGHTON, NY— The Houghton Highlanders overcame a three-point halftime deficit and hung on in the final seconds to defeat the visiting Elmira Soaring Eagles on Tuesday night, 59-57, for their first win of the year.
 
After trailing at the half, 27-30, and by as many as five early in the second half, Houghton finally captured the lead at the midway point on a layup by Josh Jordan.
 
The two teams traded baskets until inside of the five-minute mark when Darren Clark sank a pair of free throw, Jordan Holmes hit a pair of his own, and Billy McCrae added another to give the Highlanders a five-point advantage.
 
Elmira cut the lead to two with 37 seconds to play, before Clark found McCrae cutting to the basket for a layup to put Houghton back up by four.
 
Seconds later Kyle Kokoskie fed Joseph Amoddio inside, who hit the layup and drew the ensuing foul, cutting the lead to two once again, and sending Amoddio to the line with only 18 seconds remaining.  Amoddio missed the free throw, grabbed his own rebound, and missed the putback attempt.  Houghton's Jajuan Preaster grabbed the rebound and the Highlanders called timeout.
 
In possession of the ball with only five second remaining Houghton made things interesting when they turned the ball over in the backcourt, giving the Soaring Eagles one final opportunity to tie or win.  As the clock dwindled down, the last second three-point attempt bounced off the rim and out of bounds as time expired, giving Houghton their first win of the year.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 59 | Elmira – 57
Records: Houghton: 1-4 (1-4 Empire 8) | Elmira: 1-4 (1-4 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 0

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton overcame 20 turnovers in the victory, primarily by outshooting the Soaring Eagles, 39%-to-33% from the floor, and by out-rebounding them, 45-to-30.
 
>> Rashaad Nurse led all scorers with 14 points, while teammate Kyle Kokoskie added 11 points and three assists.
 
>> Billy McCrae scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Highlanders, while Jordan Holmes chipped in 10 points.  Holmes now has 977 points for his career.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Utica College this Saturday to take on the Pioneers at 1:00 p.m.