12th-RANKED FALCONS REMAIN UNBEATEN IN GNAC WITH 84-58 WIN AT EMMANUEL

BOSTON, Mass. – The No. 12 ranked Albertus Magnus College Falcons rolled to an 84-58 win at Emmanuel College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Wednesday night.  The Falcons improved to 12-1 on the season and remain unbeaten in GNAC play at 7-0 with the win.  The host Saints dropped to 4-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play with the loss.

Senior guard Tavon Sledge (Spring Valley, N.Y.) came off the bench and quickly scored twice in transition to give the Falcons an early edge.  Junior center Kyle Davis (Groveland, Mass.) kept things close for the Saints in the early going, connecting on a pair of put-backs, as the Saints trailed 9-8 at the 12-minute mark.  Sledge then stuck a baseline three to double up the Saints' score at the ten-minute mark and Albertus held a 16-8 advantage.

The Falcons held the Saints scoreless for four full minutes, until senior guard Jordan DeMario (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) dropped one in the paint to break the silence with 8:02 on the clock and EC trailed 22-10.  After a turn-around in the post by Albertus Magnus senior forward Victor Ljuljdjuraj (Bronx, N.Y.), Emmanuel's Julian Diggs (Upper Marlboro, Md.) scored on the break and Matt Raine (Miami, Fla.) connected on a jumper to force a Falcons' timeout with the score at 25-18 and 6:08 to play in the half.  Davis then scored out of the timeout for the Saints to make it a five-point game.

Albertus quickly stretched its lead back into double-figures with a pair of transition hoops and held a 35-24 lead with 2:30 left in the half.  Emmanuel sophomore guard Tyler Russ (Stratham, N.H.) buried a baseline trey with just over a minute to go, but Jaqhawn Walters (Hartford, Conn.) layed one in for the Falcons before the break and AMC carried a 39-29 into the locker room at halftime.

Davis' 12 points led all scorers at the break.  Albertus posted a balanced attack with Sledge leading the way with his eight first-half points.  The Falcons knocked down 15-30 field goal attempts, shooting 50% from the floor in the opening frame.

Junior captain John Clay (Westport, Mass.) sparked the Saints, scoring two quick hoops coming out of the break.  Davis would drain a triple from the top of the key to cut Emmanuel's deficit to six at 44-38 and 14:30 remaining in the game.

Ljuljdjuraj found Lemar Larsen (Waterbury, Conn.) cutting through the lane and Sledge threw down break-away dunks on consecutive possessions to stretch the Falcons' lead back to 14 points at 52-38 with 12:51 left.

Albertus Magnus held its largest lead of the night at 27 points with 1:06 to go and held on for the 84-58 victory.  The visiting Falcons shot 55% from the floor as a team (33-60) and forced 22 Emmanuel turnovers.

Ljuljdjuraj led the way for AMC with his double-double of 19 points and 10 blocked shots.  The senior forward drained 8-12 from the floor, while also hauling in six rebounds and dishing out four assists.  Larsen notched a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.  Sledge finished with 14 points and eight assists, while Eian Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points and four helpers.

Davis led the Saints with his double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds for Emmanuel.  Clay and Russ finished the night with eight points apiece in the effort for the Saints.

Both teams return to GNAC action this Saturday, January 17th.  The Saints will travel to Norwich University for a 3:00 PM tip with the Cadets.  Albertus will host Lasell College in a 1:00 PM start.