The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College men's basketball team picked up its 16^th consecutive win on Friday night, as the host Cardinals picked up an 82-66 win over Elmira College at Fisher's Bobby Wanzer Court.

With the win,  No. 24 Fisher improves to 18-2 overall and 11-0 in the Empire 8 Conference, while the Soaring Eagles fall to 7-12, 4-6.

The 16 straight wins is the fourth-longest winning streak in the program's 52-year history, while the 18-2 start marks the fourth time Fisher has won 18 of its first 20 games.

With five games to go, the Cardinals have a four-game lead in the Empire 8 standings.  If Fisher clinches the regular-season title, it will host the Empire 8 Conference Championship on February 27-28 with the winner of the four-team tournament earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Elmira led 11-6 with 13:58 remaining period, but Fisher went on a 20-2 run over the next eight minutes to take the lead for good.

Stefan Bock and Tyler Hart combined to score the first 13 points during the pivotal run, while Adam Ambielli capped the spurt with a 3-pointer to put Fisher up 26-13 with 6:15 left.

Fisher, who led 40-26 at the break, pushed its lead to 22 points at 58-36 with 13:17 left after five straight points from Chaz Lott, but the Soaring Eagles refused to go away.

Elmira, who made six 3-pointers in the second half, cut the lead to singles at 68-60 with 5:47 remaining.  The Cardinals, however, scored the next seven points – all of which came from Hart – who finished with a career-high 21 points.

Bock was a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor and finished with 20 points, two blocked shot and two steals.

Keegan Ryan finished with 12 points and a team-high rebounds, while Lott tallied nine points and four assists.  Charles McVay also chipped in with four assists.  Senior Optimystik Kinard added eight points in the win.

Fisher returns to action next weekend for the final two home games of the 2014-2015 regular season.   The Cardinals will host Houghton College at 8 p.m. on Friday and Nazareth College at 4 p.m. on Saturday.  Prior to the start of Saturday's game, Fisher will honor its six graduating seniors.