Pope Fuels Bounce Back Performance in 83-74 Men's Hoops Win vs. SUNY Delhi

THE BASICS 
SUNY Delhi, 74 vs. Emmanuel College, 83
Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (7-4, 3-0 GNAC)
SUNY Delhi Broncos (7-5, 2-1 NAC)

Location: Utica, N.Y. – Utica University

Date: Friday, December 30, 2022

THE LEAD – Junior guard Donte Pope (Middletown, Conn.) registered a monster double-double of 27 points and 15 rebounds to fuel Emmanuel College past SUNY Delhi, 83-74, on Friday afternoon in the consolation game of the Utica University Classic.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Saints jumped ahead 5-0 early in the bounce-back performance in which they never trailed.
• First year guard Ismani Cepeda (Roslindale, Mass.) drained a three with 10:36 to play in the half to give EC its first double-digit lead of the night at 20-8.
• Emmanuel extended the lead to as many as 21 in the opening stanza following an old-fashion three point play from senior guard Ricky Martin (Sicklerville, N.J.) to make it 40-19 with 2:26 to play before the Broncos closed the half on an 8-2 flurry to make it a 42-27 score at the break.
• SUNY Delhi used the late halftime momentum to open the second period on fire as Lester McCarthy capped a 15-4 run to open the frame to pull within four at 46-42 with 16:53 left in regulation.
• EC responded and got the lead back to double-figures at 63-52 on a Pope bucket with 9:16 to play.
• The Broncos never let the game get away and a three by Pablo Quinones with 1:52 to play once again made it a single-digit deficit at 81-72 but it was too much to overcome as the Saints held on for the 83-74 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Pope's double-double was his fourth of the year and his 15 rebounds matched a career-high.
• Seniors Kendrick Jean-Francois (Lynn, Mass.) and Ted Weber (Orange, Conn.) each scored 12 points while also grabbing eight rebounds each in the win.
• Junior guard Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.) added 12 points on a 4-for-6 shooting night including 1-for-1 from three.
• Isiah Barnes paced the Bronco with a season-high 21 points.
• The Broncos had two other scores in double-digits as Quinones ended with 12 and the most recent 1,000-point member, Mavenson Therneus, put up 13.
• EC owned a +10 rebounding margin (48-38) in the victory.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel is now idle until January 5 when they return to Boston to host Dean College in GNAC action scheduled to tip at 5:30 PM.
• SUNY Delhi hits the road next on January 2 for a 6:00 PM contest at Bard.