The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College men's basketball team won its 17^th straight game, as the Cardinals surged past visiting Houghton College for a 97-65 win on Friday night at Fisher's Bobby Wanzer Court.

With the win, No. 17 Fisher improves to 19-2 overall and 12-0 in the Empire 8 Conference.  It is the third longest winning streak in the program's 52-year history.

Fisher, who entered the game ranked second nationally in field goal percentage (51.6%) shot 62.5% from the floor for the game, the second time in the last four games it has eclipsed the 60% mark.

The Cardinals led for most of the first half and enjoyed its biggest lead of the opening period at nine points (43-34) with 4:30 remaining.  Houghton, however, responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game and took a 46-45 lead into the locker room, thanks to 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point range.

The Highlanders (5-18, 1-13) led 50-49 with 17:51 left in the game, but the Cardinals came storming back, outscoring Houghton 48-15 for the remainder of the game.

Fisher went on a 28-4 run over the next 11 minutes, including two 11-0 spurts during the pivotal span, to take control and never looked back. 

Four players finished in double figures for Fisher.

Keegan Ryan led all scorers with 22 points and nine rebounds.  Chaz Lott tallied 15 points, nine rebounds and five steals, while Stefan Bock scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half.

Tyler Hart finished with 12 points, including nine in the second half.  Charles McVay chipped in with seven points, while Tyler English added six.  Senior Garrett Sisson scored four points in three minutes of action.

Fisher returns to action at 4 p.m. on Saturday and will host Nazareth College in the Battle of the Beaks.   The Cardinal can clinch the top seed for the Empire 8 Conference Championship with a victory over the Golden Flyers.