Feb. 20, 2010

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Johnson & Wales sophomore Lamonte Thomas (Providence, R.I.) scored 36 points, including his 1,000th career point to lead the Wildcats men's basketball team to an 85-79 win over Emmanuel in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at the Harborside Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. Thomas is the first player in the history of the GNAC to record 1,000 points in the first two years of his collegiate career. The loss ends the season for the Saints, who wrap up the 2009-2010 campaign at 4-21 overall and 3-15 in the league.

Sophomore Calvin Jones (Providence, R.I.) tallied 18 points and added four rebounds and three steals while freshman Matt Williams (Mt. Kisco, N.Y.) was also in double-figures with 11 points and three rebounds for the Wildcats. Senior Paul Nicholson (Halifax, N.C.) had seven points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in the victory.

Emmanuel was paced by sophomore guard Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) with 19 points and six rebounds. Junior Andrew Heath (Stamford, Conn.) and sophomore Eric Spanbauer (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) each had 11 points and four boards in the setback for the Saints.

The two teams battled back and forth throughout the first half with the score tied seven times and neither team holding more than a five-point advantage. Johnson & Wales took the 33-30 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

It was more of the same in the early stages of the second half with eight lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the stanza. With the score tied 56-56, Johnson & Wales went on a 6-0 run to a 65-59 lead on a pair of free throws by Jones with 3:32 remaining. Emmanuel battled back, however and tied the game at 68-68 on a layup by Duke with 1:41 on the clock. A jumper by Jones put JWU up 70-68 with just seven seconds remaining. On the ensuing play, junior Tony Carter-Hill (Baltimore, Md.) missed a jumper, but Duke was there to put in the rebound with time running out to end regulation in a 70-70 tie.

In the overtime, JWU had a 75-74 lead before Thomas went to the line and hit a pair of free throws, the first of which was his 1,000th career point at the 2:25 mark, giving the Wildcats the 77-74 lead with under a minute left. JWU then controlled the action down the stretch before taking the 85-79 overtime victory.

With the win Johnson & Wales improves to 12-13 overall and 9-9 in the GNAC. The Wildcats will return to action on Tuesday, February 23rd for the quarterfinals of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship. An opponent and location will be announced at a later time.

- Courtesy of Johnson & Wales Sports Information