HOUGHTON, NY— Reigning Empire 8 MVP Daniel Cook scored 25 points to lead the St. John Fisher Cardinals past the Houghton Highlanders on Tuesday night, 91-71.
 
Houghton came out of the gates with a hot hand, knocking down 15-of-25 (60 percent) first half shots, including a scorching 7-for-12 (58 percent) from beyond the arc.  Turnovers, however, would plague the Highlanders all day long, especially in the first half as Houghton gave the ball away 14 times in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Fisher built a sizable 16-point lead toward the end of the first half, but Houghton chipped away, eventually pulling within nine points after Jordan Holmes drained his fifth three of the half, and AJ Bass sank a free throw.
 
The Highlanders stay within striking distance throughout the first 10 minutes of the second, not allowing the Cardinals any significant runs to pull away.  Then with 9:52 remaining on the clock, Preston Bax nailed a three to trim the deficit to seven points.
 
That, however, would be as close as the Highlanders would come, as the Cardinals finally pulled away in the waning minutes.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 71 |St. John Fisher – 91
Records: Houghton: 1-17 (1-8 Empire 8) | St. John Fisher: 14-5 (8-2 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 168

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton finished with 25 turnovers, leading to 34 Fisher points, while the Highlanders converted only seven points off nine Cardinal giveaways. 
 
>> Holmes led the Highlanders with 18 points, knocking down 6-of-11 shots from the floor.  He now has 1253 career points, trailing Harold Spooner (1970-74) by only 97 points for seventh place on the all-time Houghton scoring list.
 
>> Josh Jordan collected eight points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots for Houghton.
 
>> In addition to Cook's game-high 25 points, Ryan Gentile posted 18 points and five assists, and Brendan Trapper and Jack Foley scored 14 points apiece.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m. to take on the Elmira Soaring Eagles.  Houghton lost to Elmira in their previous meeting this season, 76-86.