PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Sophomores Maximus Michalski and Andrew Violante each scored more than 20 points to lead the St. John Fisher men's basketball team past Elmira College, 87-84, on Saturday inside Manning & Napier Varsity Gym. 

The Cardinals improved to 9-6 overall (5-1 Empire 8 Conference), while the Soaring Eagles dropped to 6-9 overall (1-5 Empire 8 Conference). 

Less than 24 hours after posting a double-double, Michalski scored a career-high 26 points while shooting 10-of-13 overall and 6-of-8 from the foul line to go with eight rebounds, a team high. Violante scored a career-high 23 points while going 8-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from deep, and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. 

Sophomore guard Alex Hayes also reached double figures for Fisher, scoring 13 points on 2-of-6 shooting from the field and 8-of-8 from the foul line. 

Tyler Cardello led the Soaring Eagles with 24 points, while Alecer Mercer (18), Kelton Brown (13) and Jude Wilkins (10) also scored in double figures. Brown led the Soaring Eagles with 11 rebounds as part of a double-double. 

How It Happened

The Cardinals jumped out to a 21-10 lead in the first eight minutes behind eight points from Michalski, but Elmira chipped away from there and tied the score at 29 with just over five minutes to play in the half. The Soaring Eagles took the lead on a Cardello free throw with 3:45 left and entered the break ahead by two, 41-39. 

The Cardinals regained control early in the second half and went on a 19-10 run that lasted nearly six minutes to take a 13-point lead, 82-69, with just over four minutes to play. Michalski, who finished the second half with 16 points, had eight in that stretch, while sophomore Jack Janes had seven. Violante and graduate senior Christian Daley each had two. 

However, a quick barrage of Elmira 3-pointers, including two from Jude Wilkins, set up an uncomfortable finish for the Cardinals, who had their lead trimmed to four, 82-78. After a handful of empty possessions for both sides, Cardello made 1-of-2 foul shots with 1:26 left to make it a 3-point Fisher lead. 

Hayes finally ended the Cardinals' scoreless stretch with a pair of made free throws to put Fisher up by five with 1:16 remaining. Violante, who also scored 16 second-half points, shot 3-of-4 from the foul line down the stretch to help the Cardinals hang on. 

Game Notes

• The Cardinals shot 50% overall in the contest, their third-highest shooting percentage this season. 

• Daley, who hadn't played since November, chipped in with eight points in 14 minutes off the bench. He made a pair of 3-point shots in the first half. 

• Janes scored all seven of his points in the second half. 

• Michalski's 26 points marked the most by a Fisher player this season. 

Up Next

The Cardinals face Hartwick next Friday, Jan. 23, in Oneonta, NY.