SAINTS COME UP SHORT AT WHEATON

NORTON, Mass. – Wheaton junior guard Mike Cannon (New York, N.Y.) turned in 11 points, seven rebounds and a game-high five blocks to guide the Lyons to a 75-69 victory over Emmanuel College in non-conference action on Tuesday night at Emerson Gymnasium.

Cannon went 4-for-8 from the field, while burying a pair of three-pointers and one free throw, in addition to his career high five blocks, which ranks tied for fourth all-time in a single game along with six other student-athletes. Sophomore guard Billy Battaglia (Simsbury, Conn.) poured in a game-high 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field (2-for-4 long range) and also added a pair of rebounds, assists and blocks.

Senior guard Will Bayliss (Manchester, N.H.) had eight points, a game-high seven assists and six rebounds, while freshman guard Aygei Gregory (St. Thomas, Virgin Islands) notched nine points. Freshman forward Zach Parsons (Belchertown, Mass.) contributed ten points and eight rebounds in the win.

Emmanuel freshman swingman James Sullivan (Wethersfield, Conn.) paced the Saints with 14 points and six rebounds. Classmate Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) tallied ten points and three rebounds. Junior forward Philkwan Tate (Bloomdfield, Conn.) posted ten points and seven boards.

The Lyons shot 48.1-percent (25-for-52) from the floor, won the rebounding matchup by a 43-35 margin, outscored their opposition 34-24 in the paint and rejected ten shots on the night. Emmanuel went 34.8-percent (23-for-66) from the floor and registered a 26-11 differential in points off of turnovers.

Down 66-58 with 6:10 remaining in the contest, the Saints switched to a zone defense down the stretch to tie the game at 69-69 on a three-pointer by Smith at the 2:40 mark. Battaglia responded for the Lyons with 1:29 left to go on a feed by Parsons for a 71-69 advantage. Wheaton went on to clinch the game at the free throw line, going 3-for-4 at the charity stripe.

The Lyons led by as many as 15 points early in the second half (13:15) utilizing a 16-11 run during that span highlighted by four points from Battaglia and freshman center Alex Sugarman (Concord, Mass.), respectively. In the first half, the Blue and White outrebounded the Saints 26-18 and also compiled an 11-3 differential in second chance points for its 40-30 lead into headed the break.

Wheaton (3-3) travels to Bridgewater State on Saturday, December 7 for a non-conference matchup at 1 p.m. Emmanuel (1-4) hosts Albertus Magnus College in their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Courtesy of Wheaton College Sports Information