CHICOPEE, Mass. –  Elms erased a double-digit halftime deficit to upend visiting Russell Sage College 61-58 this afternoon.

The Gators (0-2), which shot 45.3 percent from the field, had six players score a half dozen or more points in the road setback. Junior guard Darvin Lovette (Syracuse, NY/Redemption Christian Academy/Sullivan County CC) led the way with 15 points.  Guard Ryan Long (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park), a graduate student, also scored in double figures with 10 points. Sophomore guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) dished out five assists, while sophomore forward Todd Williamson (Schenectady, NY/Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons) grabbed ten rebounds.

RSC got off to a strong start in the non-conference matinee, jumping out to a 19-8 lead. The Gators, which shot 43.8 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, held a 34-22 lead at the break.

Lovette netted nine of his points in the first half, while Long and Girard netted seven first half points apiece.

The Blazers (1-0), which made just 28.1 percent of their first half field goal attempts, methodically climbed back into the contest in the second half. Elms used a 15-5 run across 6:43 to knot the score at 49 with 7:15 remaining. The contest stayed within five for the rest of the way.

Junior forward James Bruestle provided the difference with a three-pointer with 16.8 seconds left.  Up by one with seven seconds remaining, junior guard Teron Griffin sealed the Elms victory with a pair of foul shots.

Elms senior guard Dominique Threatt topped all participants with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while senior forward Jaijuan Macklin added ten points. 

RSC began its season with three-straight road games. The stretch concludes on Wednesday night at Castleton. The non-conference action is set to commence at 7:00 pm. 

Notes: The Gators, coming off an Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament appearance, graduated all five starters from last season…Nine players, accounting for just 21.22 percent of scoring and 16.82 percent of rebounding, are back…They join nine newcomers to make up this year's roster…Sophomore guard Noah Girard (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) and guard Ryan Long (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park), a graduate student, were voted co-captains...Head Coach Brian Barnes, now in his 14th season, began the campaign with a 167-153 overall record. 

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