THE BASICS 

Score: Emerson 71, No. 12 WPI 66

Records: Emerson Lions (12-8, 7-2 NEWMAC) ; No. 12 WPI Engineers (16-3, 8-1 NEWMAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. (Brown & Plofker Gym)

Date: February 1, 2023

The Lead: Powered by a career and game-high 31 points from senior Max Davis and two more double-figure performances by graduates Jarred Houston and Nate Martin, the Emerson men's basketball team topped No. 12 WPI, 71-66, and handed the Engineers their first NEWMAC setback of the season on Wednesday night. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON

Davis: 31 points

Houston: 14 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks

Martin: 10 points, eight assists

WPI

Donovan Sevilla: 21 points, one steal, one block

John Lowther: 20 points

John Adams: 10 points, eight rebounds

Andrew Lukfin: one steal

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Six minutes into the first half, Emerson posted an eight-point advantage with the help of back-to-back triples from Davis. The eight-point cushion Emerson held was chipped away on a 10-0 spurt by WPI as the Engineers gained their first lead at 14-12. 
• Houston's dunk and jumper from Davis pushed Emerson back in front at 16-14 at 10:45, which was the last time the hosts would lead for the remaining 10 minutes of the first. 
• The Lions would level the score at 18-all with 6:48 on the clock on free throws, but remained within at least a three-point margin to close the half down two, 30-28.
• WPI began to pull away six minutes into the start of the second and led by as much as six on an 11-5 spurt after Sevilla nailed a midrange jumper to put the score at 41-35.
• Eight seconds after WPI started to separate themselves, Emerson's offense came through with a clutch 13-4 spark to extend the Lions' advantage to three and give them the outright lead - a lead they would not relinquish.
• Once Emerson claimed the 48-45 lead at 10:42, the hosts spread 13 more points over the next six and a half minutes to claim their biggest lead of the game at nine on Martin's free throws as the score sat at 61-52. 
• WPI once again chipped into Emerson's advantage and pieced together a 9-2 run to inch within a pair of the Lions at 63-61. 
• Free throws and a clutch triple at the top of the key by graduate Sean Coman gave Emerson some breathing room and extended their lead to seven at 68-61 with a mere 42 ticks left in regulation. 
• The last 42 seconds saw Emerson take the game to the charity line and iced the victory with freshman Brendan McNamara's free throw as the Lions edged past the Engineers, 71-66. 

UP NEXT

• Emerson takes to the road on Saturday, February 4th and head off to Worcester to wrap their season series with Clark at 1:00 p.m.