THE BASICS 
Score: Emerson 88, Wheaton (Mass.) 75
Records: Emerson Lions (11-15, NEWMAC 6-10) Wheaton Lyons (15-10, NEWMAC 9-7)
Location: Norton, MA (Emerson Gymnasium)
Date: February 20, 2024
The Lead: The sixth-seeded Emerson College men's basketball team received double-digit scoring efforts from six players, including 18 from sophomore guard Brendan McNamara in an 88-75 upset victory over host number three seed Wheaton College (Mass.) this evening in the opening round of the NEWMAC Championship Tournament at Emerson Gymnasium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON
Brendan McNamara: 18 points & 8 rebounds
Trevor Arico: 15 points
Guillermo Gasset Ruiz: 13 points, 9 rebounds, & 8 assists
 
WHEATON (Mass.)
Eoin Morrissey: 19 points
Sal Pedevillano: 17 points
Khaled Thaher: 14 points & 6 rebounds


HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Brendan McNamara led the Lions offense with 18 points and added eight rebounds, five assists and a steal, while Guillermo Gasset Ruiz flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in addition to three steals and a blocked shot. Trevor Arico netted 15 points, dished out four assists, pulled down three rebounds and came up with a pair of steals, while Jacob Armant came off the bench to contribute with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in 16 minutes of play.
• Emerson knocked down 11 three-pointers to give it double-digit trifectas for the 10th time this season and did so at an efficient rate of 55%. The Lions shot 47.7% (31-65) from the field for the game, including 55.6% (15-27) in the second half. Wheaton shot a respectable 41.3% (26-63) after struggling through a first half that saw it make just 34.5% (10-29) of its field goal attempts. Emerson controlled the boards with a 40-33 advantage and both teams were active on the offensive glass with the visitors pulling down 15 offensive boards and the Lyons coming up with 13. The teams combined to turn the ball over just 13 times, including five by Emerson.
• The first half saw both sides battle for momentum, with Emerson coming out on top after the first 20 minutes. Heading into halftime, Emerson held a 10-point lead, thanks to a 16-0 run halfway through the first half.
• The Lions continued the momentum into the second half, holding off a comeback attempt by Wheaton, as the Lyons closed the gap to 5 points with just under 5 minutes to play.
• The Lions were able to sink 8 straight free throws down the stretch to secure the NEWMAC Tournament opening round victory.