HOUGHTON, NY – After trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, the Houghton Highlanders stormed back to tie the game, 82-82, only to lose to cross-county, non-conference rival, Alfred State, in a bizarre ending that baffled the Houghton crowd, players and coaches, 83-82.
 
With the Pioneers leading, 82-80, Brandon Taylor slipped a pass to James Wang, who laid it in to tie the game with 56 seconds left on the clock.
 
After Alfred State missed a three-point shot and Luke Cole grabbed the rebound, the Highlanders held the ball and waited for the final shot. Preston Thomas' three-point shot caromed off the rim as time expired, seemingly sending the game into overtime… when the sideline referee signaled a foul on Houghton under the basket, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. 
 
The officials put .9 seconds back on the clock and sent Alfred State's Dylan Perry to the line.  Perry clanked the first shot off the back of the rim, but sank the second shot and the Highlanders comeback hopes, 83-82.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 82 | Alfred State – 83
Records: Houghton: 1-2 | Alfred State: 1-3
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 285

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Highlanders have now lost six straight to Alfred State, all by four points or less, four of which have been decided by two points or less.  Tonight's game bore an eerie resemblance to the game between the two teams in November 2018, when a foul call as time expired send Alfred State to the line, allowing the Pioneers to claim victory on a free throw.
 
>> Thomas hit 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, scoring a Houghton-career-best 22 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
 
>> David Rosa scored 21 points and added seven rebounds, while Luke Cole chipped in 14 points and seven boards.
 
>> Paris Jamison collected 21 points, six rebounds and three steals for the Pioneers.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We've had three games and three poor first halves. Something needs to change in the way we approach pre-game and the first 20 minutes. That's on me to figure out and implement. I'll continue to give our guys all the credit for battling back the way we do night after night, but at some point, we need to develop the consistency it takes on both ends to not get down by double digits."
 
On Preston Thomas: "That's the shooter I know. We knew Preston would break out of his slump and he picked a great time to do so."
 
On David Rosa: "David was wonderful in the paint tonight. A real hunter. It paid off for him and us. David's consistent energy and attacking was why we were able to get back in that game." - Head Coach Jeremy Bialek

UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Cresson, Pennsylvania this Friday, November 17 for a non-conference matchup with the Mount Aloysius Mounties at 7:00 p.m.  Former conference foes during their NAIA days, the Highlanders brought home a victory in the only matchup between the two schools since joining the NCAA, 95-77, on December 2, 2022.