SAINTS COMEBACK TO BEAT WILDCATS IN OVERTIME 87-86

PROVIDENCE, RI. – Joe Tamburro made a layup with nine second remaining in overtime to lift visiting Emmanuel College to an 87-86 victory over the Johnson & Wales University men's basketball. The Saints overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to prevail 87-86 on Saturday.

Records:

Emmanuel: 8-17, 7-11 GNAC
Johnson & Wales: 14-11, 14-4, GNAC

Statistical Leaders:
Anthony Jernigan (JWU): 32 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds
Jarell Lawson (JWU): 20 points, 8 rebounds
Joe Tamburro (EC): 22 points, 10 rebounds

Of Note:
Anthony Jernigan (East Hartford, Conn.) hit a layup with two minutes left in regulation to put JWU up 78-73. Aidan Hadley converted a three-point play to tie the game at 78-78 and send it into overtime. In overtime, Hadley hit two free throws to tie the game, 85-85, with a minute left. After Edison Dascy (Fall River, Mass.) made only one of two free throws, the Saints ran the clock down until Tamburro's game-winner.

Both teams shot over 50 percent in the first half with the Wildcats taking a 45-35 lead into the locker room. The Saints had an early 14-7 advantage, but the Wildcats stormed back to take a 20-14 lead on a 13-0 run that was capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Marad Banks (Newark, NJ).

Over half of the Wildcats' points came from two players. Jernigan scored a game-high 32 points and nabbed five steals. Lawson was next with 20 points and eight rebounds. Randall Ferdinand (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) added eight points and six rebounds.

Emmanuel had four players in double digits and two with over 20. Tamburro had a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double and Hadley scored a team-high 23 points while pulling in nine rebounds. Emmett Riddick added 18 and Will Jessup scored 10 off the bench.

The difference in the game came at the free throw line. The Wildcats were whistled for 25 fouls – their second-highest total of the season – which allowed EC to go 23-33 from the charity stripe. Conversely, JWU was just 12-16 at the line. The Wildcats compensated by making 10 3-pointers and forcing Emmanuel into 23 turnovers which translated into 33 points for the hosts.

Up Next:
Johnson & Wales will host a quarterfinal GNAC Tournament game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against Suffolk. JWU won both regular season games against the Rams.

*Recap courtesy of JWU Sports Information