MEN’S HOOP OUTLASTS SUFFOLK, 84-75

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team defeated Suffolk University, 84-75, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) on Tuesday evening in the Regan Gymnasium.  The GNAC win kicked off the second semester action for the visiting Saints, who improved to 4-6 overall and an even .500 at 2-2 in conference play.

Sophomore guards Julian Diggs (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) each scored 17 points to pace the EC offense.  Diggs and Smith were part of a trio of double-figure scorers for Emmanuel in the balanced attack.  Kyle Davis (Haverhill, Mass.) netted 14 points, while both Jordan DeMario (Aliso Viejo) and Tyler Russ (Stratham, N.H.) each hit for 9 points in the win.

The Saints' 84 points marked their season-high point total, while their 46% (29-63) field goal shooting was also a season-best performance.

Junior Branden Barboza (Riverside, R.I.) recorded the double-double in the setback for Suffolk, finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds and also added 14 points. Senior Sam Nwadike (Houston, Tx.) poured in a team-high 16 points for Suffolk, who dropped their third straight contest to move to 5-6 on the year.

Emmanuel held the lead for the majority of the contest, as the Saints pulled into the half with a 39-34 lead.  The Saints would push their lead to as many as 14 points with 6:42 remaining, when sophomore Russ knocked down a jumper to make it a 70-56 contest.

Suffolk would answer, going on an 11-2 run to bring it to a two possession contest, when junior Jake Meister (Madison, N.J.) knocked down one of his two three-pointers to make it 72-67 with 3:56 remaining.

Diggs connected on a pair of free throws, before feeding Davis down low to push the Saints lead back up to nine points with three minutes remaining.  A layup by junior Caleb Unni (Winchester, Mass.) would bring Suffolk back within five points at 76-71 with 2:35 remaining, but the Saints closed out the victory from the free throw line.

Smith knocked down four free-throws and also added an assist in the closing minutes, as he netted 16 of his 17 points (4-for-6 from the field) in the second half.  Diggs scored 10 of his game total in the final twenty minutes as well for the Saints.  Davis found himself in foul trouble early in the first half. The junior center opened the game connecting on a pair of three-pointers in the opening four minutes of the contest.

Meister finished with 10 points for Suffolk to go along with seven rebounds.  Suffolk held a slight edge on the glass at 49-45.

Both teams will be back in GNAC action on Thursday evening.  Emmanuel will host Lasell College at 7:00 PM, while Suffolk travels to Rivier University for a 7:00 PM tip-off.

- Release Courtesy of Suffolk University Sports Information Office