Elmira Basketball Featured on CNN
Score: Elmira College 62 – Endicott College 59
Records: Elmira (2-7), Endicott (4-5)
Location: James Twohig Gymnasium – Salem, MA
Salem, MA -- The Elmira College men's basketball team secured one the most thrilling victories the program has witnessed in recent memory, as the Soaring Eagles returned to action against Endicott College in the second day of the Salem State Holiday Tournament on Wednesday evening. Senior guard
Justin Henderson '16 sank a shot at the final horn to lift Elmira to its second victory of the season by a final score of 62-59.
Trailing for much of the game, Elmira slowly whittled the Gulls lead, which at one point was as large as 13 points, during the second half.
Gino Leonardi '16 did the heavy lifting down the stretch, scoring 13 of his team-high 18 points during the second stanza. Down by three with under 10 seconds remaining, the senior guard knocked down a huge triple to pull Elmira level for the first time since early in the first half.
The Gulls looked to have the final chance to break the deadlock in regulation. Endicott's Max Motroni took the inbounds pass and blazed down the middle of the court for a final shot; however, he lost his handle of the ball as he pulled up around the top of the arc. The ball fell right into the hands of Henderson, who nearly instantaneously fired a three-quarter court shot that found nothing but nylon, as the final buzzer blared. The Elmira bench erupted, mobbing Henderson at center court.