Six Men's Players Score in Double-Figures in 85-77 GNAC Win Over Regis

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel, 85 – Regis, 77

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (10-4, 6-0 GNAC)
Regis College Pride (7-6, 3-3 GNAC)

Location: Weston, Mass. – Higgins Court

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2023

THE LEAD – Six players scored in double-figures to help the Emmanuel College men's basketball team defeat Regis College, 85-77, Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action in Weston, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pride scored the first seven points of the game and opened an 11-3 lead before Emmanuel's Bryant Ciccio (Attleboro, Mass.) hit a three-pointer to start a 17-4 scoring run, capped by a three-pointer from Ismani Cepeda (Roslindale, Mass.).
• After Zaire Baines (Queens, N.Y.) picked up a steal and layup to increase the Saint lead to 33-26, the Pride battled back, tying the game at 37-37 on a layup by Ned Fitzpatrick (Providence, R.I.) before a traditional three-point play from Donte Pope (Middletown, Conn.) gave Emmanuel a three-point halftime advantage.
• Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) scored the first basket of the second half for Regis, but consecutive three-pointers by Ricky Martin (Sicklerville, N.J.), Pope, and Ciccio extended the Saint lead to 51-41 three minutes into the half.
• Perez scored five points during a 9-3 Regis run to bring the Pride within four points at 54-50, but three-pointers by Martin and Cepeda helped the Saints increase their advantage back into double digits.
• The Pride hung tough, closing to within two points at 75-73 with 3:49 remaining in regulation on consecutive layups by Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) and Thompson.
• The teams would trade points, with Rau making a layup with 1:26 left on the clock to bring Regis back within two points at 79-77, but Emmanuel would go 6-for-7 from the free throw line in the final minute to put the game away.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Six players reached double figures in scoring for the Saints for the first time this season, led by Pope with 18 points along with a game-high 11 rebounds. Baines went 6-for-9 from the field, including 4-for-5 from behind the three-point line, to finish with 17 points, while Martin hit three three-pointers as he scored 13 points. Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.) collected 11 points, and Ciccio and Cepeda contributed 10 points apiece.
• As a team, Emmanuel shot 47.5 percent (29-for-61) from the field, including 15-for-29 from behind the three-point line, and 85.7 percent (12-for-14) from the free throw line.
• Meanwhile, Regis shot 47.7 percent (31-for-65) from the field and 83.3 percent (10-for-12) from the charity stripe.
• Both teams grabbed 34 rebounds and took care of the ball, with the Pride committing just eight turnovers while the Saints turned the ball over 10 times.
• For Regis, Thompson shot 8-for-13 from the field as he led the Pride with 19 points, while Rau finished with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Joshua Perez (Lynn, Mass.) collected 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Tate Pike (Bellingham, Mass.) contributed nine points off the bench.

UP NEXT

• The Saints continue their four-game road trip this Saturday, January 14 when they take on Colby-Sawyer College at 3:00 PM
• The Pride are also back on Saturday, welcoming Dean College to Higgins Court for a 3:00 PM GNAC tilt.

*Some release content provided courtesy of Regis College Athletic Communications staff