EARLY RUN LIFTS MONKS PAST MEN'S HOOPS, 73-69

BOSTON, Mass. – Despite some late game heroics, the Emmanuel College men's basketball team dropped a 73-69 decision to Saint Joseph's College (ME) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Thursday evening at the Jean Yawkey Center. With the win, the Monks improve to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the GNAC while the loss drops the Saints to 2-5 and 0-2.

Saint Joseph's opened the game on fire, converting its first five shots while holding EC scoreless to take a 10-0 lead just 2:24 into the action following a three point bucket from senior forward Zach Blodgett (Glenburn. Maine). The run would prove to be too much for the Saints to overcome as the Monks never trailed during the conference tilt.

A thunderous dunk by Emmanuel sophomore forward Aidan Hadley (Owls Head, Maine) pulled Emmanuel to within seven points at 12-5 with 14:26 to play in the half but they wouldn't get any closer in the opening stanza as the Monks controlled most of the play while shooting 56.5% from the field.

Following the dunk, Saint Joseph's reeled off eight straight points including a three by junior guard Jake Downing (Simsbury, Conn.) to bump the lead to 15 points at 20-5 midway through the half. EC responded with a 7-0 spurt fueled by a deep triple from sophomore guard Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) to cut the deficit to 20-12.

The squads would trade baskets for the remainder of the half as the Monks carried the early 10 point lead into halftime in front 33-23 at the break with Blodgett leading all scorers with 10 points.

The chess match continued during the first four minutes of the second half as two squads matched hoops to bring the score to 40-30 before the Monks posted back-to-back baskets to bump the lead to 44-30 and force Emmanuel to burn a timeout following a Blodgett layup.

Emmanuel regrouped and a three from EC sophomore guard Julian Diggs (Upper Marlboro, Md.) cut the Saint Joseph's lead to single digits at 49-40 with 12:45 to play in regulation. A free throw from junior center Kyle Davis (Groveland, Mass.) made it 49-41 and one possession later, a three from junior forward John Clay (Westport, Mass.) pulled the hosts to within seven points at 51-44.

A jumper by Davis in the paint with 8:40 remaining made it a five point game for the first time since two minutes into the action at 51-46 but the Monks answered with a quick hoop by senior guard Steve Simons (Steep Falls, Maine) to regain the seven point advantage at 53-46.

Back to back layups by Davis made it a one possession game at 53-50 but Saint Joseph's junior guard Jerome Diggs (Washington, D.C.) nailed a deep three followed by a layup from senior guard Jordan Tripp (Queens, N.Y.) to increase the lead to eight at 58-50. On the next possession, Blodgett converted a back-door layup to once again make it a 10 point game at 60-50 with 5:40 left.

Another Davis layup in transition kept EC close, pulling the Saints to a 62-56 score. After trading hoops to make it 64-58, Smith hit a runner on the baseline to cut the lead to 64-60. Emmanuel immediately fouled on the inbound to put Simonds at the line for the bonus and the senior connected on both for a 66-60 score.

EC freshman guard Colin Cordero (Bolton, Conn.) drained a jumper with 36 seconds left to make it 66-62 but Simonds converted two more free throws to keep it at six points at 68-62.

Diggs converted a trey in transition to make it 68-65. Emmanuel fouled his brother to put Diggs at the line for two. After converting the first, a lane violation gave the ball back to the hosts trailing 69-65. Smith came down to hit a runner in the lane to make it a two point game at 69-67 but the Monks remained solid from the line as freshman Quinn Richardson-Newton (Saco, Maine) converted two more free throws to keep it a two-possession game at 71-67 with 10.9 seconds left.

Emmanuel was able to bring the ball the length of the court and feed Davis in the paint for a turn around jumper to make it 71-69 with 3.2 seconds to play. The Monks struggled to inbound the ball but a heads up timeout by Richardson-Newton allowed them to retain the possession. Following the timeout, the Saints fouled Simonds with 2.0 seconds to play. Simonds calmly drained both to seal the 73-69 victory for Saint Joseph's College.

Simonds led the way with a double-double collecting game-highs in points (19) and rebounds (10) while shooting a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. Blodgett chipped in with 18 points while Richardson-Newton was also in double-figures with 13 points.

Davis led the Saints with 19 points while Smith finished with 17.

The Saints return to action on Saturday when they head to Newton, Mass. for another GNAC contest against Mount Ida College at 1:00 PM. The Monks are idle until Dec. 30 when they head to the California to match up against Pamona-Pitzer.

During halftime, the Emmanuel College Athletic Department recognized the student-athletes and coaches who received GNAC honors during their respective fall athletic seasons.