THE BASICS 

Score: Springfield 86, Emerson 76

Records: Emerson Lions (13-8, 6-4 NEWMAC) ; No. 23 Springfield Pride (18-3, 9-1 NEWMAC)

Location: Springfield, Mass. (Blake Arena)

Date: Saturday, February 8, 2020

The Lead: Despite outscoring Springfield 50-47 in the second half, the Emerson men's basketball were unable to get past the Pride in an 86-76 setback on Saturday afternoon in NEWMAC play. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON

Points: Jarred Houston (24), Jack O'Connor (17) & Zach Waterhouse (11)
Rebounds: Houston (10)
Assists: Houston & O'Connor (4)
Steals: James Beckwith (2)
Blocks: Houston & O'Connor (1)

SPRINGFIELD

Points: Jake Ross (29), Heath Post & Trey Witter (13)
Rebounds: Ross (14)
Assists: Ross (4)
Steals: Ross, Daryl Costa & Deonte Sandifer (1)
Blocks: Ross (4)

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Emerson faced the early 7-2 deficit just three minutes into the contest after Ross nailed the trifecta, yet the Lions were able to bounce back and regain the 12-11 lead when sophomore Trevor McLean (Boston, Mass.) drilled a triple at 14:19. 
• Springfield answered with a 9-0 burst fueled by five points from Post to grab back the 20-12 cushion. 
• Freshman Ben Allen (Hampton Beach, N.H.) scored down low to help the Lions pull within a pair at 20-18 at the 8:02 mark, but the hosts gained control with a 16-4 spurt to earn the 36-22 advantage with under three minutes to go in the half. 
• At half's end, the Lions would find themselves trailing by the score of 39-26. 
• Houston paced Emerson early and helped the visitors pull within seven (42-35) just under three minutes into the second frame. 
• Over the next 3:32, the home team embarked on a lengthy 16-2 run that consisted of four three's to push its lead up to 58-37. 
• Emerson continued to face a double-digit deficit for much of the half until the Lions stormed back with an 11-4 surge, thanks to seven points from O'Connor, to make it a two-possession contest with 2:04 on the clock.
• From then on, the game went to the free throw line as the Pride knocked down 10 from the line within the final 1:14 with the Lions falling by a score of 86-76. 

UP NEXT 

• Emerson begins the final stretch of its home schedule on Wednesday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. hosting Clark. 
• Springfield spends next Wednesday night on the road with a NEWMAC slate out at Wheaton (Mass.) at 6:00 p.m. 

STAY LIVE WITH THE LIONS 

• Stay updated with the Emerson men's basketball team and follow the Lions on Twitter, Facebook at Emerson College Men's Basketball as well as Instagram. Also be sure to tune into Emerson Channel Sports to catch the Lions in action!