Saints Finish with Five in Double-Figures, Win 87-77 vs. SJC

BOSTON - Five Saints finished in double-figures, led by a career-high 18 points by sophomore Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.), as the Saints picked up their first win of 2022 by defeating the Saint Joseph’s College Monks, 87-77, on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play.

Saints Finish with Five in Double-Figures, Win 87-77 vs. SJC
Program Video Box Score

Team Stats

January 8, 2022

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel 87 – St. Joe's of Maine 77

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (8-3, 4-1 GNAC)
Saint Joseph's College of Maine (3-10, 2-3 GNAC)

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

Date: Saturday, January 8, 2022

THE LEAD – Five Saints finished in double-figures, led by a career-high 18 points by sophomore Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.), as the Saints picked up their first win of 2022 by defeating the Saint Joseph's College Monks, 87-77, on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Saturday's GNAC contest came down to the final 16:38 with the sides deadlocked at 55-55. Emmanuel, who led throughout most of the game, would take charge over the next 9:23 with the help of a 17-6 to take their largest lead of the game at the time, 72-61.
  • In the 17-6 run, Saints graduate student Zachary Crisafulli (Easthampton, Mass.) and sophomore Eljay Morris (London, England) both scored five points while sophomore Bryant Ciccio (Attleboro, Mass.) and Grijalva chipped in with four and three points, respectively.
  • The Saints were out in front early, starting the game on a 12-4 run. Emmanuel held the lead since the opening bucket through the first half, but the Monks closed with half with the final five points, as St. Joe's cut the deficit to one possession going into half, 47-44.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Grijalva shot 6-for-9, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, for his career-best 18 points.
  • Morris came through with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 20 minutes.
  • Sophomore Donte Pope (Middletown, Conn.) finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ciccio and Crisafulli both chipped in 11 points in the victory.
  • Monks senior Griffin Foley (Portland, Maine) scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting.
  • Senior Nicholas Curtis (Windham, Maine) added 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three-point range.

UP NEXT

  • The Saints continue a three-game homestand and welcome Rivier University to Yosinoff Court on Jan. 12 for a GNAC tip at 7:30 p.m.
  • The Monks have a week off before hosting Norwich University on Jan. 15 with the GNAC tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.