DIXON POWERS MEN’S HOOPS PAST SAINT JOSEPH’S, 73-61

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior forward Rashad Dixon (Brockton, Mass.) scored 15 points to lead the Emmanuel College men's basketball team past Saint Joseph's College (ME), 73-61 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday evening at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium. EC improves to 5-15 overall and 5-8 in GNAC play while the loss drops the Monks to 6-14 overall and 3-10 in the GNAC.

The Saints, who beat the Monks earlier this season with a 58-37 win on Dec. 1, sweep the season-series for the first time in program history.

The first half featured five ties and seven lead changes resulting in a 33-33 score heading into halftime. The Saints held a lead for most of the period until a three ball by Saint Joseph freshman guard Ian Mileikis (Auburn, Maine) gave the Monks their first lead of the action at 23-21 with just over six minutes to play. Neither squad led by more than five in the stanza as the action was very even with the Saints owning a slight advantage form the field shooting 48.3% (14-for-29) compared to the Monks 47.6% clip (10-for-21).

Saint Joseph's senior guard Craig Luschenat (Boston, Mass.) led all players at the break with nine points, shooting 3-for-5 from behind the arc.

Nine different players recorded points for Emmanuel in the first half led by six points from senior forward John Clay (Westport, Mass.).

Emmanuel opened the second half with a 4-0 spurt to take a 37-33 lead capped by a thunderous put-back dunk by Dixon. After a Monks basket to make it a two point game, EC rattled off a 6-0 run to extend the lead to eight at 43-35.

Rookie sharp shooter Joe Tamburro (South Windsor, Conn.) gave the Saints their first double-digit lead of the evening with a three ball from the wing to make it 48-37 with 13:30 to play in the action.

The Monks didn't fold and a baseline trey by freshman forward Marc Corey (Londonderry, N.H.) pulled the visitors back within two possessions at 50-44 with 11:45 remaining.

A transition tip in by Dixon with 8:25 to play bumped the Saints lead back to double figures at 59-48 and one possession later, senior center Kyle Davis (Groveland, Mass.) made it a 13 point game with a pick and role basket to give Emmanuel the 61-48 cushion.

Down the stretch Saint Joseph's would get as close as nine points (63-54) but Emmanuel was able to hold on for the 73-61 victory.

Along with a team-high 15 points, Dixon also finished with three rebounds and two assists in the win. Rookie Will Jessup (Westwood, Mass.) chipped in with nine points while Clay and Davis each finished with eight points.

Saint Joseph's sophomore Quinn Richardson-Newton (Saco, Maine) led all scorers with 20 points. Luschenat finished with 11 points while Corey and freshman guard Darian Barry (Rochester, N.H.) added 10 each.

Emmanuel returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 6 when they host Rivier University at 1:00 PM in the final game of a their six-game homestand while Saint Joseph's is back the same day when they play host to Mount Ida College at 3:00 PM.