ELMIRA, N.Y.— Jajuan Preaster and Christian Sage both posted over 20 points, as they guided the Houghton Highlanders past the Elmira Soaring Eagles on Friday night, 85-74.
 
The win is the Highlanders' 12^th of the year and seventh in the Empire 8, the latter of which surpassed the 2015-16 team for the most conference victories in a season since joining the NCAA and Empire 8.
 
The Highlanders never trailed in the second half, taking a one-point advantage in the opening minutes after the break and turning it into a double-digit lead with just over 10 minutes to play.
 
While the Soaring Eagles would fight back to within nine in the closing seconds, that would be as close as they would come.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 85 | Elmira – 74
Records: Houghton: 12-9 (7-5 Empire 8) | Elmira: 6-15 (2-10 Empire 8)
Venue: Speidel Gymnasium, Elmira College | Attendance: 98
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> The Highlanders 12-9 record is their best through the first 21 games of a season since 1991-92.
 
>> Preaster finished with a team-best 21 points, hitting 10-of-14 shots, while adding six rebounds, five assists and four steals.  He has scored at least 20 points in a game eight times this season and now has 1,395 points, 86 points behind sixth-place-holder Dylan Lambert ('19).
 
>> Preaster's five assists gave him 251 in his career, moving him past Brandon Camacho ('16) and into fifth place.  He also registered his 150^th career steal, tying him with Jeff Anspach ('85) for third place.
 
>> Sage recorded 20 points and seven assists.  He has scored at least 20 points in a game eight times this season, and at least five assists on six occasions. 
 
>> Lou Bellamy added 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. 
 
>> Riley Spencer, Kelton Brown, and JJ Babcock led the Soaring Eagles with 23, 22 and 22 points apiece, respectively.  The trio combined to score all but seven of Elmira's points.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"First off, credit to Coach McGraw and his squad for the fight and execution they showed. They are a good young team getting better - much improved from the last time we played.
 
"Our guys were resilient, absorbing run after run and producing some of our own. We stayed true to our game plan, and it paid off.
 
"Jaujuan Preaster and Lou Bellamy force people to adjust their defense to them. We did a great job of finding those two, and they in turn either scored or found teammates.
 
"Coming off our last several games of weaker rebounding, it was also refreshing to see how we hit the glass.
 
"Christian Sage, [Ja]Juan, and Lou combined for 16 assists. When three of the top five scorers in the conference are passing the ball that well too, we are very tough to guard.
 
"Big credit to Hudson Idzi, Luke Cole, and David Rosa off the bench, especially defensively. With two of our top defenders (Preston Thomas and Donovan Loudermill) out injured, they all received not just increased minutes, but also tougher assignments. All performed well." – Head Coach Jeremy Bialek
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Keuka Park tomorrow to take on the Keuka Wolves at 4:00 p.m.