RAMS OVERTAKE SAINTS, 64-59
BOSTON, Mass. – Framingham State University erased a 19-point first-half deficit to fight back and defeat Emmanuel College, 64-59, in a non-conference game played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Thursday night. With the win, the Rams now stand at 6-2 on the season, while the host Saints drop to 1-4.
BOSTON, Mass. – Framingham State University erased a 19-point first-half deficit to fight back and defeat Emmanuel College, 64-59, in a non-conference game played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Thursday night. With the win, the Rams now stand at 6-2 on the season, while the host Saints drop to 1-4.
The Saints got out in front early, utilizing an 11-2 run to open the game. Backed by solid scoring from senior guard Xavier Everson (Rochester, N.Y.) and a three-pointer from classmate Michael Mailhot (Norwich, Conn.), the Saints surged out in front, 21-11, by the seven-minute mark. Another Mailhot triple gave the Saints a 24-13 margin with five and a half to go in the half.
The Rams were forced to signal for a full timeout, trailing 26-13, following a baseline reverse move by Mailhot with four minutes to go in the half. A monster block by Everson with under two minutes left in the half, led to a bucket in transition from Brandon Jones (Windsor, Conn.) and the Saints extended their lead to 33-16. Mailhot connected on a layup on the break and Framingham senior Rico DePaolis (Watertown, Mass.) drained a baseline three to set the spread at 35-19 heading into the locker rooms at halftime.
The Rams struggled offensively in the first half, knocking down just 7 field goals and shooting 28% in the opening frame. The Saints capitalized by going 13-25 (52%) from the floor in the opening frame.
The tables would turn in the second half. The Rams opened the half on a 6-0 run and cut their deficit to ten at 35-25. The Saints were able to hang on to their solid ten-point lead through the 14-minute mark, when Tyrone Figueroa (Revere, Mass.) grabbed an offensive board and drained the put-back to cut the Emmanuel lead to nine at 42-33.
A baseline three by Framingham rookie Joe McCabe (Canton, Mass.) at the 13-minute mark set the score at 44-36. Consecutive treys by Rams' guards Justin Bryan (Red Oak, Texas) and Figueroa trimmed the Emmanuel lead to two, 47-45. The Saints held a slight edge through the six-minute mark.
A bucket down low by junior forward Yemi Ajao (Randolph, Mass.) gave the Rams their first lead of the night at 55-54 at just under five minutes left. Emmanuel regained control when Everson found Theo Robinson (Springfield, Mass.) in the paint for two.
Both teams missed layups at either end in the final minute of play, but Framingham would seal the win on the free throw line, knocking down four for four from the line down the stretch. After a twenty-four point swing, the Rams would pull away with the 64-59 win.
A balanced scoring attack saw three Framingham players in double-figures, including Figueroa and Ajao with 17 points and Santana with 12. Sanatana led the Rams on the glass with 8 rebounds.
Emmanuel was led by a game-high 20-point effort from Mailhot, who drained 7 of 13 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from long-range. Everson added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, while Jones chipped in the 9 points in the effort.
The Saints will play at home again on Saturday, when they return to GNAC action to host the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University in a 1:00 PM start. Framingham extends its win streak to four games and will host Brandeis University in an 8:00 PM tip on December 11th.