BUFFALO, NY— Luke Cole hit a pair of clutch free throws with only seconds remaining in the game to lift the Houghton Highlanders past the Medaille Mavericks by a single point on Saturday evening's Empire 8 opener, 71-70.
 
After leading for over 95 percent of the game, and holding a 15-point lead with just over five minutes to play, the Highlanders watched the Mavericks storm back in the closing minutes. 
 
In the span of less than five minutes the Houghton lead evaporated, as Medaille outscored the Highlanders, 21-4, eventually pulling ahead for the first time in over 37 minutes on a layup by Daunte Wilcott with less than 30 seconds to go.
 
After Wilcott missed the ensuing free throw, Jajuan Preaster grabbed the defensive board and eventually put the ball in Cole's hands, who drew the foul driving to the basket.
 
Following a Mavericks' miss, Houghton had a chance to increase their lead but missed a pair of free throws with three seconds on the clock, giving Medaille one final shot.  The Mavericks grabbed the defensive board off the second miss and had an open look from about 33 feet, but the ball clanged off the back of the iron, giving Houghton their second straight victory.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 71 | Medaille – 70
Records: Houghton: 2-4 (1-0 Empire 8) | Medaille: 1-4 (0-1 Empire 8)
Venue: The Kevin I. Sullivan Center, Buffalo, NY | Attendance: 100

NOTABLE STATS
>> While Medaille shot only 36% from the floor, and Houghton only 36.5%, the Highlanders made up for 26 turnovers by knocking down 9-of-25 (36%) three point shots, and by going 24-for-37 from the free throw line.
 
>> Preaster logged his second double-double in the past three games, scoring 21 points and pulling down 12 boards.  He leads the Highlanders in scoring this season, averaging 18.2 points per game.
 
>> Cole finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while teammate Daniel Rosario chipped in 11 points, going 4-of-6 from the floor and 3-for-5 from long range.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"While it's easy to focus on what we didn't do to protect the second half lead, we need to remember that we did a lot well on both ends to get that lead and to pull out a W after giving it up.

"I also want to give Medaille a lot of credit for not folding and giving themselves a few chances to win it late. I felt like both teams were emotionally and physically drained by the end, but still giving great effort. Hard to say that either team was more deserving than the other.
 
"We need [our] bench to be successful this year and beyond. Today was bench development by fire with two of our best players not even playing a full game combined due to foul trouble.
 
On the go ahead free throws from Luke Cole: "Those are two clutch free throws! Quite a lot of off-season preparation and courage paid off there. But, don't undersell Juan [Preaster] breaking the press and finding Luke on-time, which allowed Luke to drive." - Head Coach Jeremy Bialek

UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Alfred University on Wednesday, December 7 to take on the Saxons in another Empire 8 clash at 7:30 p.m.  The Saxons have won each of the last five matchups between the two teams.