Saints Off to 3-0 Start Following Five-Point Victory vs. Regis

BOSTON - In a game played within two possessions throughout the 40 minutes, the pivotal and final six points of the game went to the Emmanuel Saints, helping them start 3-0 for the first time in program history, thanks to a 72-67 victory in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action against the Regis Pride on Wednesday night.

Saints Off to 3-0 Start Following Five-Point Victory vs. Regis
Program Video Box Score

Team Stats

November 17, 2021

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel 72 – Regis 67

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (3-0, 1-0 GNAC)
Regis College Pride (1-3, 0-1 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – JYC Gymnasium/Andy Yosinoff Court

Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021

THE LEAD – In a game played within two possessions throughout the 40 minutes, the pivotal and final six points of the game went to the Emmanuel Saints, helping them start 3-0 for the first time in program history, thanks to a 72-67 victory in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action against the Regis Pride on Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Emmanuel trailed by one in the final minute, but a clutch offensive rebound tip-in by graduate Zachary Crisafulli (Easthampton, Mass.) gave the Saints a 68-67 lead. Missed shots on the Regis offensive end led to the Pride fouling and putting Saints sophomore Donte Pope (Middletown, Conn.) on the foul line. Pope shot 4-of-4 from the charity stripe, down the stretch, as the Saints earned the victory on Andy Yosinoff Court, 72-67.
  • The Saints stretched a lead out to 66-61 with 3:00 remaining in the game, but a strong response from the Pride and six straight points, including a pair of layups by first-year Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) saw Regis edge out to a 67-66 lead with 1:05 to go.
  • The first momentum shift of the second half came in the opening 5:25 as the Pride started the half on an 11-4 run. Regis shot 5-of-10 over that span to lead 50-44, early in the second half.
  • After trailing for much of the second half, the Saints finally broke through in the middle of the half, answering the Pride's early run with a 15-6 surge of their own to take a 59-56 advantage and set up the exciting finish.
  • A game played within two possessions for the entire opening 20 minutes, both sides only led by as many as four at most in the first half. Emmanuel shot 53.8 percent (15-of-28) from the floor while the Pride shot 42.4 percent (14-of-33), as the Saints led 40-39 at halftime.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Pope netted a career-high 23 points in the win for the Saints, shooting 7-for-13 on the night. Pope added nine rebounds for Emmanuel.
  • Sophomore Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.) posted a career-high 14 points in 26 minutes, off the bench.
  • Junior Ted Weber (Orange, Conn.) added nine points, six rebounds, and four assists in a team-high 28 minutes.
  • The Pride had four players in double figures, all led by Rau and his career-high 22 points on an impressive 10-of-13 shooting. Rau added nine rebounds in his first career start.
  • Senior Jalil Wilkerson (New Haven, Conn.) finished with 11 points while junior Cameron Wilkins (Taunton, Mass.) and sophomore Joshua Perez (Lynn, Mass.) chipped in 10 points each.

UP NEXT

  • After three straight at home to start the season, the Saints hit the road Saturday as they travel across the city to Emerson College for a 1:00 p.m. tip with the Lions.
  • After four road games to start the season, the Pride head for home and their first game on Higgins Court of 2021 as they host Rhode Island College for a 1:00 p.m. game on Saturday.