2014-15 MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON IN REVIEW

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team used the 2014-15 campaign to boast its most successful season in the past three years, as the team earned a 10-16 overall mark and advanced to the semifinal round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament.  The Saints used a late three-game GNAC regular-season win streak to secure the No. 6 seed in the GNAC Tournament, before upsetting No. 3 Anna Maria College on the road, 76-73, in the GNAC quarterfinals.  The Saints' GNAC semifinal appearance marked the sixth in EC program-history.

Junior center Kyle Davis (Groveland, Mass.) was named All-Conference, earning a spot on the 2nd Team All-GNAC.  Davis led the Saints in three statistical categories throughout the season, including points (14.7 ppg), rebounds (7.7 rpg) and blocks (0.7 bpg).  Davis notched five double-doubles on the year with his career-high scoring total of 33 points, coming on December 6th in a win at Mount Ida.  Davis also tied Emmanuel's single-game rebounding record with 21 boards in his January 17th outing at Norwich.  In addition to his All-Conference nod, Davis was named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll seven times this season, including four-consecutive weeks in February.

Junior captain John Clay (Westport, Mass.) joined Davis as a dominating force inside the paint throughout the season.  Clay averaged 9.4 points and 6.2 boards per game for the Saints.  His play in the post-season helped Clay secure a spot on the GNAC All-Tournament Team.  Sophomore transfer Aidan Hadley (Owls Head, Maine) also played a pivotal roll down low for EC, notching 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per night.  Hadley scored in double-figures six times this season for the Saints, including a career-high 20-point performance, in which he shot 8-9 from the floor, to lead Emmanuel past Anna Maria in the GNAC Tournament.

Sophomore guards Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Julian Diggs (Upper Marlboro, Md.) paced the Emmanuel backcourt, combining for five assists per night.  The duo also averaged 9.2 and 5.8 points per game, respectively. Smith was named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll on December 1st this season.

Freshman guard Josh Bushman (Hurst, Texas) earned a spot in the Saints' starting line-up midway through his rookie season.  Bushman was good for 6.2 points per game and scored in double-figures four times this year.  Also earning solid minutes as a rookie this season was freshman guard Colin Cordero (Bolton, Conn.).  Cordero started in eight of his 24 contests played and was honored by the conference with a spot on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Head Coach Jamahl Jackson will lose just one senior to graduation this May, in guard Jordan DeMario (Aliso Viejo, Calif.).  DeMario saw 14 minutes per game off the bench this season and notched career-highs in both rebounds (6) and assists (7) in the Saints' overtime loss to GNAC champion Albertus Magnus back in January.

Losing just DeMario to graduation, Coach Jackson will return a solid core of 15 veterans to the team next year.  Coach Jackson feels his 2015-16 squad has solid potential.  "My expectations are high for next year with the core of our team being so young.  The addition of some sharp outside shooting and some more athleticism from the wing spots will compliment our returning experience and help us battle amongst the top tier of the league."  Jackson will be returning for his 16th year as a part of the EC men's basketball program and his 12th season as head coach, as he looks to lead Emmanuel to its first-ever GNAC Championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament.