Jan. 6, 2010

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team dropped its first game of the second semester on Wednesday night, falling to Endicott College, 72-59, in a non-conference match-up played in the Jean Yawkey Center. The loss brought the Saints' record to 1-7 on the season, while the Gulls improved to 5-6 overall. Endicott's freshman transfer Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass.) led all scorers with 26 points to pace the Gulls.

The Saints came out of the gates and took an early 5-0 lead with a three-ball and two free throws from Xavier Everson (Rochester, N.Y.). Two Endicott baskets by Aaron Karkow (Uncasville, Conn.) and Greene brought the score to 5-4 in favor of the Saints. Back-to-back buckets in the paint by Emmanuel's sophomore guard Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) put the Saints up, 9-4 with 16:29 remaining in the half.

The Gulls tied the contest at 9-9 with an elbow jumper from Endicott's junior center Justin Martin (Cromwell, Conn.). Another hoop in the paint by Martin gave the Gulls their first lead of the game at 11-9 and Endicott never looked back. Martin's baskets were part of a 14-0 Endicott run that spanned three and a half minutes and the Gulls led, 18-9, with 12:57 remaining in the half.

The Gulls began to pull away and led by as many as twelve points with two minutes to go in the half. The Saints got a couple of lay-ups from Everson late in the frame and Endicott was able to take an eight point lead, 35-27, into the locker room at halftime.

Greene led all scorers at the break with 13 points on 6 for 9 shooting for Endicott. Duke was the high scorer for the Saints with 10 points and 3 boards. Everson had a near double-double at the half with 9 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Emmanuel.

Endicott went on an 8-0 run to open the second half and led, 43-27, forcing an Emmanuel timeout with 17:39 remaining. The Saints came out of the timeout and got a quick jumper from Torrey Joyner (Bridgeport, Conn.) to bring the margin to 43-29. Greene sparked another Endicott 8-0 spurt, rattling off five quick points in thirty seconds with a trifecta and a fastbreak lay-up, to put the Gulls on top, 50-29 with 14:31 left to play.

The Gulls stretched the margin to as many as 28 points midway through the second half, leading 31-59, after a trey by Mike Rhodes (Amston, Conn.). Emmanuel then went on a run of their own, scoring 13 unanswered points and cutting the deficit to 15 points at 59-44 with 7:01 showing on the clock.

Freshman guard Patrick Ramsey (Easthampton, Mass.) provided a huge spark off the bench for the Saints. Ramsey scored 6 points during the late run and finished with 10 on the night, hitting 3 of his 4 shots from the floor. Classmate Michael Mailhot (Norwich, Conn.) also gave big minutes off the bench, scoring 8 second-half points and dishing out 4 assists for the Saints.

Emmanuel was able to chip away at the Gulls' lead and managed to trim the margin to 10 points, 67-57 with just over a minute to go. Greene and senior guard Bobby Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) knocked down their free throws in the final minute and Endicott came away with the 72-59 win.

Greene led all scorers with 26 points on 10-16 shooting. In a solid 35-minute effort, the rookie also hauled in 6 rebounds, gathered 5 steals and dished out 4 assists. Sophomore center Erik Callo (Southington, Conn.) added 9 points and a game-high 4 blocked shots, while Martin grabbed a team-high 8 boards for the Gulls.

Duke was the high man for the Saints with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Everson finished with 9 points, a game-high 14 boards and 5 assists. Ramsey and Mailhot combined for 18 points in the effort.

The Saints will return to GNAC action on Saturday (1/9), traveling to Standish, Maine to take on the Monks of Saint Joseph's College in a 2pm start. Endicott will also play again on Saturday, taking on the Crusaders of Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Mass. at 3pm.