2009-10 SEASON IN REVIEW

May 25, 2010

The Emmanuel Men's Basketball Team completed its 9th season of intercollegiate competition in 2010. The Saints faced a rebuilding year during the 2009-10 season, as the team had lost over thirty points per game to graduation the previous season. Emmanuel went 4-21 overall and 3-15 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play, with seven of the team's losses coming within ten points.

The Saints also struggled with some bad luck during the year. Emmanuel lost senior captain and starting point guard Mike Jackson (New York, N.Y.) to ineligibility after the first semester. Starting power forward Tyrone Buchanan (Detroit, Mich.) never saw a minute of action this year, as he suffered a knee injury over the summer. Starting center Eric Spanbauer (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) dealt with a back injury throughout the year and subsequently only averaged 21 minutes per game.

Despite the unluckiness, the Saints had some shining moments as well as some newcomers stepping in to play big roles this year. Sophomore guard Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) led the squad in scoring with 15 points per game, while also grabbing 6.6 boards per night. Freshman guard Xavier Everson (Rochester, N.Y.) stepped right into a starting role, as he netted 12.8 points per game, shooting 45% from the floor, while also leading the team on the glass with 7.5 rebounds per game. Duke was named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll twice and Everson received GNAC Rookie of the Week honors on February 1, 2010.

Emmanuel's inside play was dominated by Spanbauer, Andre Fuller (Troy, N.Y.) and Nate Jackson (Middleboro, Mass.). The trio combined for 16 points and 15 rebounds per outing. Sixth-year Head Coach Jamahl Jackson also got some quality minutes from junior guard Tony Carter-Hill (Baltimore, Md.), as well as freshman guard Michael Mailhot (Norwich, Conn.), who played big for the Saints during the second half of his rookie year.

Jackson will lose four seniors to graduation this year, including Mike Jackson, Eric Spanbauer, Karl Gonzalez (Worcester, Mass.) and Zach Luster (Provincetown, Mass.). However, Coach Jackson will return 11 veterans, as well as a strong class of incoming recruits for the 2010-2011 campaign.