BOSTON – Friday night's home opener for Emmanuel men's basketball was spoiled as they got their 2024-25 season underway with an 89-78 defeat at the hands of the Nichols Bison in non-conference play on Yosinoff Court.

The Bison start their season off at 1-0 and have won three consecutive season openers, dating back to 2022. The Saints drop to 0-1 on the year with their last two season openers resulting in losses to the Bison.

The first run of the night came early for the Bison, as they pulled away with the help of a 20-5 run in a 6:13 span, to lead 31-15 halfway through the first frame. Senior Dominic Mello led the Nichols run with seven points while junior Javen Flowers-Smith chipped in with five.

Nichols maintained their double-digit advantage through the half as the Saints only closed to within 12 at the closest point. A late-half foul resulted in three free throw makes for Emmanuel sophomore Noah Beaudet, as the Saints trailed 45-32 at the break.

The Bison looked poised for a runaway after coming out of the locker room with the first 12 points of the second, all coming in a 2:50 span, to take a commanding 57-32. Four of the Nichols five starters scored in that run, helping the Bison to the 25-point edge.

Emmanuel slowly chipped away at the Nichols lead, getting themselves back to within 15 with a 16-6 response over the next 4:53. Beaudet had eight of the Saints 16 points in the stretch that pulled the home side back to a 63-48 deficit.

Nichols coasted over the next five minutes, maintaining their double-digit advantage, much like they did in the first half. The Saints and Bison traded buckets before another Saints charge came with Nichols leading 72-59.

Over the next 3:09, that 13-point edge would work its way down to five, as an 11-3 Saints surge cut the deficit to 75-70 with just over four minutes left. Nichols settled in and broke the Emmanuel momentum with a left-wing three-pointer by Mello, starting a Bison response of seven consecutive points to stretch their lead back out to a dozen.

Foul shots down the stretch put the opening game of the season out of reach for Emmanuel, as the Bison survived their early season scare with an 89-78 win.

Flowers-Smith led all players with 28 points and nine assists, as the junior guard shot 8-for-17 from the floor and 11-of-16 at the line. Mello added 25 points on 9-for-19 shooting, including four made three-pointers. Sophomores Percy Simon and Luke Chapman added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Beaudet finished with a career-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 3-for-6 beyond the arc. Senior Tim Greene also had a career-best, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes off the bench. Sophomore Mahari Guerrier, and juniors Vondre Chase and Zaire Baines all reached double-digits with 14, 12, and 10 points, respectively.

The Saints break for a week before returning for the Emmanuel Tip-Off Classic on Friday, Nov. 15, against Lake Forest at 6:00 p.m. The Bison travel to Bridgewater State on Wednesday, Nov. 13, for a 7:30 tip with the Bears.