PITTSFORD, NY – Despite a solid second half, the Houghton Highlanders could not dig their way out of an 18-point halftime deficit, falling to the St. John Fisher Cardinals in the first round of the Empire 8 Championship tournament on Tuesday evening, 79-65.
 
The Cardinals dominated the first half, pressuring the Highlanders into nine turnovers and holding them to under 30 percent shooting.  At the midway point, Fisher held a commanding, 43-25, lead.
 
Houghton steadied their feet in the second half, outscoring the Cardinals, 40-36 over the second twenty minutes, but came no closer than a 12-point deficit, as Fisher held on for the win.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 65 | St. John Fisher – 79
Records: #6 Houghton: 7-19  | #3 St. John Fisher: 18-8
Venue: Manning & Napier Varsity Gymnasium, St. John Fisher University | Attendance: 210

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Cardinals owned the paint, outrebounding the Highlanders, 52-to-36, while scoring 52-to-20 points down low.
 
>> Jajuan Preaster finished with a game-high 20 points, while adding five rebounds and three assists.  He scored at least 10 points in 21 of the 23 games in which he played this season, and topped 20 points 10 times. Preaster finished the year with 439 points (19.1 ppg) and now has 1070 points for his career.
 
>> Trey Flatt posted 13 points, seven boards and three steals, while Preston Thomas collected 11 points, five assists and five rebounds.  Thomas finished the season averaging 15.5 points per game and led the team with 163 rebounds (6.3 rpg).  Flatt averaged 9.9 points per game and led the team in both assists (98) and steals (58).
 
>> Daniel Cook led the Cardinals with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Brendan McRoy added 11 points and six assists.
 
>> Houghton's playoff appearance is their first since 2012-13, when they played Roberts Wesleyan in the NCCAA East Regional, and their first Empire 8 conference tournament.   Their last conference tournament appearance came in 2000-01, when they were a member of the Northeast Atlantic Conference (NAIA). 
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Hats off to Fisher. They brought their best defense of our three games. We didn't shoot it well, but their defense was part of the reason.
 
"I felt like our halfcourt defense was really good too. We kept them off the boards in the first half, but they got out in transition and stymied ours. Unfortunately, once our offense started to settle in, that's when St John Fisher broke through for second chances.
 
"Jajuan Preaster was the consummate competitor today. Nothing phased him. He led us, defended [Daniel] Cook, made solid choices, and even flashed that great Juan smile a few times. He is a big reason why the program is here now. He wasn't perfect, but he was mature. He finished this season well. We all did." – Head Coach Jeremy Bialek