THE BASICS 

Score: WPI 70, Emerson 54

Records: Emerson Lions (18-7, 10-4 NEWMAC); No. 14 WPI Engineers (24-2-7,13-1 NEWMAC)

Location: Worcester, Mass (Harrington Auditorium)

Date: February 26, 2022

The Lead: Senior Jarred Houston secured another double-double but that was not enough as Emerson fell to No. 14 WPI in the NEWMAC Championship game on Saturday afternoon at Harrington Auditorium.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON 

Jarred Houston: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists

Zach Waterhouse: 13 points, 9 rebounds

Chad DiCenzo: 8 points, 5 rebounds

WPI

John Adams: 15 points, 15 rebounds

John Lowther: 23 points, 3 blocks

Aidan Callahan: 11 points, 4 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED `

• Both teams started slow to begin the NEWMAC Championship as they combined to go 0 for 6 from the field in the game's first two minutes.
• Senior Zach Waterhouse would break the scoring drought as he drove to the basket to score a layup.

• WPI's John Adams would answer a few possessions later with a layup of his own before Senior Trevor McLean would drill a three-pointer to give Emerson an early 5-2 lead.
• On the next possession, Colin McNamara would answer with a three-pointer of his own; tying the game at 5-5. After this, both teams seem to shake off any nerves and got into a rhythm.
• Junior James Beckwith would give the Lions their largest lead the game when he drilled a three-pointer with 11:47 remaining in the first half; giving Emerson a 14-7 advantage.
• McNamara would hit another three-pointer would cut Emerson's lead back to four points as the teams would continue to trade baskets with under 10 minutes remaining in the half.
• Vince Conn would again push Emerson's lead to 7 points when he sank a free throw.
• WPI would answer with a 7-0 run of their own, capped off by a John Adams dunk which tied the game at 24-24 with 5:15 remining in the first half.
• Another McLean three-pointer for Emerson would help push the Lions lead to two points as they led 28-26 going into halftime.
•  Through the first 6 minutes of the second half, WPI would outscore Emerson 20-4, with John Lowther scoring 9 of those 20 points.
• The Lions found themselves in a 14-point hole with 14:44 reaming in the game.
• Emerson started chipping away and cut the lead to 10 points when Senior Jarred Houston knocked down two free-throws brining the score to 46-36.
• WPI was again able to build a 13-point lead before both teams combined to go 0 for 11 from the field during the next four minutes of action.
• Waterhouse again broke the scoring drought with a layup making the score 51-40 with 5:22 remaining in the game.
• Waterhouse would bring the Lions within 9 points with a three-pointer, but that is as close as Emerson would get to catching WPI.
• WPI would continue to build their lead as they would go on to secure a 70-54 win and NEWMAC Championship.

UP NEXT

• The Lions will wait in hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will take place on Monday, February 28 at 12:30pm.