WALTERS BIG NIGHT LIFTS ALBERTUS MAGNUS OVER MEN’S BASKETBALL, 93-82

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior forward Jaqhawn Walters (Hartford, Conn.) scored a career-high 34 points to go along with a career-high tying 23 rebounds to power the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team past Emmanuel College, 93-82, Tuesday evening at the Andy Yosinoff Court in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action play. Walters also netted his 1,000th career point in the win as the Falcons improve to 19-4 overall and 15-2 in GNAC play while the loss drops the Saints to 7-19 and 6-10.

Both teams defended well out of the gates and forced several turnovers early. Through the first ten minutes of the half the score read Falcons 18 Saints 16.  The familiar foes traded baskets until the Falcons began to heat up from behind the arc. Grant Ellis (Newark, N.J.) extended the lead to 34-24 on a long range triple with 4:58 left on the clock.  The Saints were able to narrow the lead to seven after a three-pointer by Will Jessup (Westwood, Mass.) and a pair of free throws from Alex Minetti (Wakefield, R.I.) with 3:32 remaining in the first half.  The Falcons pulled away again at the end of the first stanza and entering the break with a 44-31 lead.

 Ellis led all scorers with 13 points for the Falcons in the first half.  Liam Perryman (Poughkepsie, N.Y.) and Walters led their team with 10 and eight boards respectively at the break. Ryan Pittman (Stratford, Conn.) led the game with six assists at half.

 Jessup paced the Saints with 11 on three for three shooting from downtown. Emmett Riddick (Middletown, Conn.) and Colin Cordero (Bolton, Conn.) had four assists a piece entering half time.

 The Saints clawed back into the game to start the second half.  Joe Tamburro (South Windsor, Conn.) knocked down a three pointer with 13:10 remaining to narrow the lead to two points.  Diggs tied the game up at 72 a piece on a fast break layup with 7:07 on the clock, it was the first time the teams were even in over 25 minutes of play. Walters answered with two straight layups of his own, followed by a jumper from Ellis. Another key three-pointer from Tamburro kept it a one possession game with 5:21 on the clock. The Saints finished with six players scoring double digits, but their efforts would fall short.  When the final seconds ticked off the clock the score read Albertus Magnus 93 Emmanuel 82.

 The Saints are back in action on Thursday, February 16 when they host GNAC opponent Norwich.  The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 7, but was postponed due to inclement weather.

 The Falcons will take on Mount Ida in their season finale on Saturday February, 18 before they head into postseason play.