MOUNT IDA TOPS EMMANUEL IN GNAC MEN’S HOOP REMATCH

NEWTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College was defeated by Mount Ida College, 77-70, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball game played on the Mustangs' home court on Tuesday night.  Mount Ida led end-to-end in Tuesday night's rematch of the one-point December 1^st battle that went in favor of the Saints.  With this loss, Emmanuel falls to 2-9 on the season and 2-2 in league play.  Mount Ida improves to 5-7 overall and picks up their first conference win at 1-4 in the GNAC.

Emmanuel trailed by as many as 18 points (56-38) with thirteen minutes to go in the game, but the Saints went on a 17-6 run over the next six-minute span to cut their deficit to seven points (62-55) with seven minutes remaining.  After an and-one by Xavier Everson (Rochester, N.Y.), the Saints shortened the Mustang lead to three with under two minutes to go, but Emmanuel could not come any closer and Mount Ida held on for the 77-70 win.

The Saints were led by a double-double effort from Everson, who paced the visitors with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Theo Robinson (Springfield, Mass.) hit for 17 points and hauled in 8 rebounds.  Junior guard Josh Welles (Philadelphia, Pa.) chipped in with 11 points, while D.J. Fazio (Methuen, Mass.) dished out a team-high 5 assists in the effort.

Mount Ida was led by 23 points from Cam Walker and 19 points from Aaron Kelly.  John Fortes added 16 points, while Brett Helmann dished out a game-high 8 helpers.

The Saints will return to the court this Thursday night, when Emmanuel hosts the Lasers of Lasell College in a 7:00 PM tip.