THE BASICS 

Score: Emerson 85, Babson 77 (OT)

Records: Emerson Lions (18-6, 10-4 NEWMAC); Babson Beavers (18-7,11-2 NEWMAC)

Location: Babson Park, Mass. (Staake Gymnasium)

Date: February 24, 2022

The Lead: Senior  Zach Waterhouse led all scorers with 28 points and senior Jarred Houston chipped in 25 points as the Lions secured a 85-77 comeback victory over Babson on Thursday night at Staake Gymnasium to advance to the NEWMAC Championship.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON 

Jarred Houston: 25 points, 10 rebounds

Zach Waterhouse: 28 points, 5 rebounds

Trevor Arico: 14 points, 5 rebounds

BABSON

Kieran Dorney: 17 points, 16 rebounds

Mitchell Kirsch: 13 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds

Colin Bradanese: 18 points

HOW IT HAPPENED `

• Kieran Dorney would start the scoring for Babson as he drilled a three-pointer on the Beaver's first possession of the game.
• Emerson would answer with a quick 9-0 run lead by Senior Zach Waterhouse who would convert on three free throws and connect on a jumper to help propel the Lions to a 9-3 lead three minutes into the game.
• Babson would answer with a 7-0 run of their own as Andrew Kirkpatrick drilled a three-pointer to give Babson a 10-9 lead with 15:54 remaining in the half.
• The two teams would trade baskets over the course of the next 5 minutes as the led changed sides four times.
• Senior Jarred Houston would tie the game at 16-16 with a made layup about halfway through the first half.
• Two three-pointers by James Welch, would help Babson would build a 9-point lead.
• Houston and Waterhouse would combine for 26 of Emerson's 30 points in the first half as the Lions would enter the lock room down 36-30
• Babson would start the second half with a 12-2 run to extend their lead to 16 points with 14:57 remaining in the game.
• Waterhouse would drill back-to-back three-pointers as Emerson would chip away at Babson's lead.
• A three-pointer by Graduate Vince Conn followed by an and-1 for Houston would pull the Lions within two points.
• A Jumper by Waterhouse and two made free throws from Sophomore Trevor Arico would give the Lions their first lead since the 14:33 mark of the first quarter.
• Babson would again pull ahead by as many as 7 points with under two minutes remaining in the game.
• The teams would trade free-throws as Babson would still hold a 5-point lead with :19 remaining.
• Senior Chad DiCenzo would drive to the basket and score a layup to cut Babson's lead to two points followed by a Babson turnover on the inbound pass.
• This would set up Trevor Arico to drill a game-tying three-pointer with :3 remaining and send the game to overtime.
• Emerson's defense would step up in overtime, holding Babson to just two points.
• The Lions would outscore Babson 10-2 in overtime on their way to securing an 85-77 victory and a trip to the NEWMAC Championship.

UP NEXT

• The Lions head to No. seed WPI on Saturday, February 26 for a chance at the NEWMAC Championship with tip-off slated for 2:00 p.m.