SAINTS DOWN FISHER, 82-76, TO OPEN 2014

LYNN, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team got season-highs of 24 points from Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) and 22 points from Jordan DeMario (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) en route to the Saints' 82-76 win over Fisher College on Sunday evening.  The non-conference game was played at the Fectau-Leary School in Lynn, Mass. and marked Emmanuel's first win of 2014.  With the victory, the Saints now stand at 2-7 on the season, while Fisher falls to 7-10 with the loss.

Smith's 24 points came off 10-16 shooting from the field.  The rookie guard also dished out five assists and picked up three steals in a solid effort.  DeMario netted his 22 points in just 21 minutes of action, while also hauling in four boards and handing out three helpers.  He drained two of three from long-range and was lights-out from the line, shooting 87.5% (14-16).

Sophomore forward John Clay (Westport, Mass.) just missed a double-double, hitting for 10 points and grabbing 9 boards.  Freshman forward Lyndon Harewood (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was also a big factor in helping the Saints to out-rebound Fisher, 39-34, as he finished with 8 rebounds and 6 points in the win.

Emmanuel shot 79.2% from the line as a team, hitting 19 of 24 from the stripe.  The Saints led, 49-43 at the half, before playing an even second frame and pulling out the six-point win.  The much-needed victory came at just the right time.  "It was a total team effort," stated Head Coach Jamahl Jackson.  "Our guys played hungry for forty minutes. This was our most unselfish game to date. No matter the adversity in the game, we stayed together and played with great pride and passion."

The Saints will return to the court this Tuesday night, January 7th, when Emmanuel hosts Johnson & Wales University in the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle of the new year.  The GNAC match-up is slated to tip off at 7:00 PM in Emmanuel's Jean Yawkey Center.