Jan. 14, 2012

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- Senior All-American Lamonte Thomas (Providence, R.I.) netted a season-high 42 points to lead Johnson & Wales University over Emmanuel College, 81-75, in men's basketball action played at the Harborside Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference win for the Wildcats boosted JWU to 5-8 on the season and 4-2 in the league. The Saints are now on a five-game slide and drop to 4-9 overall and 3-3 in the GNAC.

Thomas, who averages a nation-leading 31.9 points per game, knocked down 19 of 22 free throws in the win, while also hauling in a team-high 10 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists in 37 minutes of action. Fellow senior Mike Harris (Providence, R.I.) was also in double-figures with 17 points and two boards. Classmate James Folk (Lawrence, Mass.) had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in the victory for the Wildcats.

Emmanuel sophomore Theo Robinson (Springfield, Mass.) had a career day with his all-time highs in both scoring and rebounding. Robinson paced the Saints with 23 points on 9 for 10 shooting, while tying his own single game program-record for rebounding with 19 boards. Senior captain Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) netted 19 points for the Saints, while juniors Xavier Everson (Rochester, N.Y.) and Michael Mailhot (Norwich, Conn.) each chipped in with 15 points, as four of five Emmanuel starters scored in double-figures in the setback.

Johnson & Wales took command of the game early and led 33-11 after a layup by Thomas with 7:41 left in the first half. The Wildcats would take a commanding 46-29 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

Emmanuel chipped away at the deficit in the opening minutes of the second half and brought the spread to 51-47 after a layup by Duke with 11:40 left in the contest. JWU responded with a 13-6 run, capped with a layup by freshman Julian Bolton (Manassas, Va.) to extend their lead to 64-53 with 6:30 remaining. Once again, Emmanuel responded with 17-8 run of their own and cut the lead to 72-70 on a free throw by Duke with just over two minutes left on the clock. That would be as close as the Saints would get, however, as JWU hit nine free throws down the stretch en route to the 81-75 victory.

The win is the third straight for JWU. Emmanuel has now suffered three-straight GNAC losses since the semester break. The Wildcats will return to action on Monday, January 16th, when they travel to Albertus Magnus College for a GNAC contest at 3:00 p.m. The Saints will host new GNAC opponent, Anna Maria College, on Monday afternoon in a 3:00 p.m. tip.

- Courtesy of Johnson & Wales University Sports Information