HOUGHTON, NY— Almost.  A furious second-half comeback effort by the Houghton Highlanders came up short on Saturday afternoon, as the Russell Sage Gators held on to defeat the Highlanders, 74-69.
 
On a frigid day in Western New York, the Highlanders got off to an icy start, shooting only 29 percent from the floor in the first half.  Nor could they stop the Gators offense, which converted 18-of-34 shots (53 percent) to open up a 45-20 lead at the break.
 
At that point many teams would pack their mental bags and begin preparing for next week; instead, the Highlanders came out of the locker room with a vengeance, slowly clawing their way back into contention.
 
Down by 24 points with 11:24 left in the game Josh Jordan made a layup, followed by a Jajuan Preaster steal and three-point-play.  Over a 5:30 span the Highlanders would outscore the Gators, 19-2, capped by a Jordan Holmes three, cutting the lead to seven points.
 
Over the ensuing minutes Sage would regain their footing, and with less than two minutes to play the Gators led by nine. 
 
With 1:51 on the clock Preaster found Holmes for another three.  Preaster then grabbed the rebound on the defensive end before finding Jordan for a layup, trimming the deficit to only four points with just over a minute to play.
 
After the Gators sank a pair of free throws, a Jabari Talton layup pulled Houghton back within four, but the Highlanders were running out of time. 
 
In the closing seconds, Houghton had opportunities to complete the improbable, but a turnover and a missed layup, coupled with some clutch free throw shooting by Sage, inevitably sank the comeback. 
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 69 | Sage – 74
Records: Houghton: 1-11 (1-2 Empire 8) | Sage: 8-5 (2-2 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 101

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton sank 19-of-33 shots (58 percent) in the second half, including 4-of-9 from long range, and 7-of-7 from the free throw line.  They also forced Sage to commit 10 of their 13 turnovers in the final 20 minutes.
 
>> Jordan finished with 17 points, his fourth consecutive double-digit game, and pulled down a team-best six rebounds.  Billy McCrae chipped in 10 points and blocked three shots.
 
>> Holmes collected 13 points, all of which came in the second half.  Holmes now has 1,194 career points and trails eight-place-holder Yannick Anzuluni (2006-10) on the career leader board by only 26 points.
 
>> Stuart Phair led the Gators with 21 points, 18 of which he scored in the first half before foul troubled limited his time in the second.  Phair also grabbed seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
>> Jalon Border and Amani Cummings chipped in 18 and 15 points apiece, respectively, for the Gators. 
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Rochester on Friday, January 21 to challenge the St. John Fisher Cardinals at 7:30 p.m.