ELMIRA, N.Y.— The Elmira Soaring Eagles staved off a furious second-half comeback attempt by the visiting Houghton Highlanders on Friday evening, holding on to pick up their third Empire 8 conference win of the season, 86-76.
 
The Soaring Eagles led by 19 at the half, and as many as 21 early in the second, before the Highlanders began to whittle away.
 
With 11:04 left to play Jordan Holmes drained a three that cut the Elmira lead to seven points.  Five minutes later Josh Jordan completed a three-point-play that trimmed the deficit to three.  One minute after that, Jajuan Preaster hit a three that brought Houghton within only two points.
 
Moments later, with Elmira still clinging to a two-point lead, the Highlanders grabbed an offensive rebound but missed a three.  The Soaring Eagles grabbed the rebound and quickly converted on the other end, setting up a 5-0 run to go back up by seven. 
 
Preaster answered with a layup and, after a block by AJ Bass on the defensive end, David Rosa drew a hard foul and converted both free throws to pull Houghton back within only three points. 
 
The final minute, however, would belong to the Soaring Eagles, as they knocked down seven consecutive free throws, without an answer from the Highlanders, to finish off the game.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 76 | Elmira – 86
Records: Houghton: 1-15 (1-6 Empire 8) | Elmira: 5-11 (3-4 Empire 8)
Venue: Speidel Gymnasium, Elmira College | Attendance: 255
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> Preaster knocked down 9-of-13 shots from the floor and went a perfect 2-for-2 from the line for a team-high 20 points, the second time this season he has reached the 20-point mark and the first time since the season-opener. 
 
>> Jordan Holmes moved into eighth-place on the all-time Houghton scoring board, passing Yannick Anzuluni (2006-10) with an 18 point effort, his third highest single-game total of the season.  Holmes now has 1229 points for his career and trails seventh place-holder Harold Spooner (1970-74) by 121 points.
 
>> Bryan Adams posted a game-high 30 points for the Soaring Eagles, while adding five assists, five steals and six rebounds.  Quintel Clements added 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon for a rematch with Alfred University.  Houghton lost to the Saxons in Alfred on Tuesday, 53-89.