LATE SECOND HALF RALLY PROPELS LIONS PAST SAINTS

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team suffered a heart-breaking 64-62 loss to Emerson College on Saturday night in the consolation game of Emerson's Tip-Off Classic.  Lions senior captain Jon Goldberg sunk two free throws with nine seconds remaining to seal the deal for the hosts, improving Emerson to 1-1 to start the season.  Emmanuel is now 0-2 on the opening weekend.

Goldberg's double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds paced the Lions.  Thirteen points apiece  from Michael Thorpe and Tyson Hallowell rounded out a trio of double-figure scorers for Emerson, who combined for 60% of the Lions' scoring.

Sophomore John Clay (Westport, Mass.) netted 11 points and grabbed 7 boards, while junior Philkwan Tate (Bloomfield, Conn.) hit for 10 points and hauled in a team-high 9 rebounds to lead the Saints.

Emerson jumped out to a double-figure lead midway through the first half.  The Lions took advantage of early foul trouble by the Saints, connecting on free throws and holding an 18-8 after a pair of freebies by Goldberg with 9:40 left in the half.

The Saints then put together a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to tie the game at 18-all with 6:07 remaining in the half.  Emmanuel took its first lead of the game at 2:45 on a pair of made free throws by Tate to go out in front, 27-26.  But the lead would be short-held, as the Lions regained control of the board after a Hurley jumper with 2:21 to play.  Emerson hung on to its slim advantage and took a 31-30 edge into the locker room at halftime.

The second half scoring opened with a jumper by Clay to put Emmanuel up 32-31. Hurley's layup gave the 33-32 lead temporarily back to Emerson.  The Saints then took over for the next eighteen minutes.  Emmanuel surged out to a double-figure lead after a jumper by James Sullivan (Wethersfield, Conn.) with 8:27 to go.

Two free throws by Emmanuel's senior captain Brandon Jones (Windsor, Conn.) kept the Saints' lead at 10 points, 62-52, with 6:15 remaining.  These free throws would cap the scoring for Emmanuel, as the Lions went on a 12-0 run to end the game.

With the score tied at 62-all, Thorpe inbounded the ball to Goldberg under the hoop, where he went up for a shot and was fouled.  Goldberg knocked down his clutch free throws with nine seconds remaining.  Emmanuel had one final chance, but Kyle Smith's (Los Angeles, Calif.) jumper would not fall and time expired.

The Lions shot 42% from the field to 36% for the Saints. The Saints shot 80% from the line (16-20), but Emmanuel sent Emerson to the line 34 times, where the Lions shot 70.6% (24-34).  The Saints out-rebounded the Lions, 36-33.

Emmanuel is back in action on Thursday night in the Saints' home opener.  Emmanuel will host Wesleyan University in a 5:30 PM game.  The Lions return to the hardwood on Wednesday, when they host the Mount Ida College at 5:30 PM.

- Courtesy of Emerson College Sports Information