HOUGHTON, NY – Preston Thomas picked up his second double-double of the season, and David Rosa and Jajuan Preaster combined for an additional 38 points, as the Houghton Highlanders picked up a much-needed Empire 8 victory over the Hartwick Hawks on Saturday afternoon, 93-76.
 
Thomas scored 20 points on the game, including 12 in the first half, and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the line.  He also matched his season-high with 10 rebounds and added five steals and three assists.
 
The Highlanders started to pull away only five minutes into the game when James Wang and Jair Bialek hit back-to-back threes to put Houghton up by eight points.  They eventually stretched their lead to double-digits with just over 7:30 remaining in the half when a Preaster layup kicked off a 13-0 Houghton run.
 
At the break the Highlanders held a commanding, 51-31, advantage.
 
The second half brought more of the same, as Houghton's lead remained above 20 points for most of the second half. 
 
But with less than four minutes to play the Hawks began to show signs of life when a pair of layups and a three-pointer, all inside of a minute of play, cut the Houghton lead to 13 points.
 
That, however, would be as close as Hartwick would come, as a pair of Preaster dunks in the closing minute put Houghton back up for good.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 93 | Hartwick – 76
Records: Houghton: 4-9 (2-2 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 1-10 (0-4 Empire 8)
Venue: Dix Family Court, The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 174

NOTABLE STATS
>> Thomas has scored at least 20 points five times so far this season, his first as a Highlander.
 
>> Rosa finished 8-for-11 from the floor, good for 20 points, one point shy of his season high. 
 
>> Preaster scored 18 points and added seven boards and four assists.  He has reached double-digit point totals in all 10 games in which he has played this season.
 
>> Trey Flatt and James Wang both reached career milestones.  Flatt dished out a career-best 11 assists, while Wang scored a career-best 14 points.
 
>> The Highlanders racked up 13 steals and 24 assists, while committing only 13 turnovers.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We are growing in a lot of ways. My favorite part is how our assist numbers continue to be high game-in [and] game-out. Trey Flatt with 11 today. When his shot wasn't falling, he still found people.
 
"We had 23 assists total and four guys in double figures, which are both big reasons for our highest offensive output of the year. We also got to the free throw line 22 times against a physical team. Last year against Hartwick, that was not the case.
 
"Preston Thomas and JaJuan Preaster are consistently causing problems for defenses, but then you add David Rosa and James Wang scoring timely baskets. They combined for 34 points in 22 minutes each. That's super-efficient for secondary options and will force defenses to make tough choices." –Head Coach Jeremy Bialek
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders hit the road on Tuesday, January 9, when they travel to Elmira College to take on the Soaring Eagles at 7:30 p.m.