BOSTON, Mass. – A heartbreaker was in store for the Emerson Men's Basketball Team as they took on the Wheaton Lions Tuesday night for their third game of the season. Both Bilali Kalilou-Mack and Nathan Firn led Emerson on offense with ten points apiece with Eli Kell-Abrams following suit with eight points and dishing out eight assists. The effort wasn't enough though as the Emerson Lions fell in the waning seconds 52-48 to fall to 0-3 on the year.

Emerson seemed to be in the driver's seat in the first half as they put up 38% from the floor as Nathan Firn went 3-5 in the half for six points, which was matched by Dan Bisaccio's 3-3 and six points as well. The EC defense was solid as well keeping Wheaton off-kilt the entire half as Emerson snapping up two steals and a block as well as they rolled into the half up 23-18.

Wheaton wasn't about to play nice though as they stepped up the gas on the offensive attack in the second half shooting 10-27 from the floor and 3-9 beyond the arc. Emerson bested them inside with a 41% on the floor, but went only 29% from three point land.

The difference showed its face in free throws though as Wheaton stepped up to use the fouls Emerson was giving up to shoot 86% for 11 points, while Emerson only saw two free throws in the entire half. With Wheaton's sharp shooting they broke the 47-47 tie at the one minute mark and never looked back as a costly foul gave Wheaton the lead and the ball back to see the end of the game taken out of EC's control in the final seconds.

Next up the Lions hit the home hardwood again next Tuesday as they host the MIT Engineers at 7 p.m. in Boston at Brown-Plofker Gym. The game will be broadcast live on ESN.