Saints Close First Semester with GNAC Win vs. Elms, 89-57

THE BASICS 
Elms College, 57 vs. Emmanuel College, 89

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (6-3, 3-0 GNAC)
Elms College Blazers (1-9, 0-3 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Andy Yosinoff Court

Date: Saturday, December 10, 2022

THE LEAD – Junior guard Donte Pope (Middletown, Conn.) posted a double-double while senior forward Kendrick Jean-Francois scored a career-high 15 points to power Emmanuel College past Elms College, 89-57, on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball action at the Jean Yawkey Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blazers opened the action with a quick hoop by senior forward Jaijuan Macklin (Sayreville, N.J.) before Pope answered with a three to give the hosts the lead for good with 17:23 to play in the half.
• The Saints opened up a double-digit lead at 16-6 on a three by junior Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.) midway through the frame and led by as many as 15 in the half when first year forward Ismani Cepeda (Roslindale, Mass.) slammed home a fast break dunk to give the hosts a 25-10 lead with 6:48 to play in the half.
• Elms closed the frame on a 14-6 run to cut the halftime deficit to single digits at 31-24 getting strong play from senior guard Dominique Threatt (Birmingham, Ala.) during the closing spurt.
• The Blazers kept the score within striking distance early in the second half before Emmanuel put together a 9-2 flurry capped by a three from senior Ricky Martin (Sicklerville, N.J.) to open up a 52-37 lead with 12:14 to play.
• Midway through the second half, a 10-2 run capped by a Cepeda free throw bumped the lead up to 20 at 62-42 and Emmanuel went on to extend the lead to as many as 32 points when sophomore Walker Baillargeon (Norwich, Conn.) drained a triple with 2:06 to play to give the hosts a comfortable 89-57 cushion which proved to be the final score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Pope's double-double was his third of the year and second in as many games, recording game-highs in both points (19) and rebounds (11).
• Jean-Francois ended the afternoon with a career-high 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 from the stripe, connecting on 3-of-4 from long range.
• First year guard Zaire Baines (Queens, N.Y.) also dropped 15 in the win, including 10 in the second half when he went 2-for-2 from three-point land.
• Grijalva filled up the stat sheet with nine points, six assists and three boards in 21 minutes of action.
• Threat paced the Blazers with a team-best 13 points while Tahquell Cadle (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Jake Midura (Chicopee, Mass.) added 11 points in the defeat. Cadle also dished out a game-high eight assists to go along with six rebounds and three steals for Elms.
• Emmanuel improves to 3-0 all-time vs. the Blazers and closes out the first semester on a five-game winning streak heading into the break.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel is now idle until December 29 when they head to Utica, New York to take on SUNY Oswego at 6:00 PM.
• Elms is off until next year, returning to the hardwood on January 3, 2023 for a GNAC contest in Newton, Mass. vs. Lasell at 7:30 PM.