BOSTON, Mass. (November 16, 2025) – Connecticut College connected on 11 three-pointers, hitting 6-of-12 in the first half alone, on its way to an 82-72 victory over Emerson College in a non-conference men's basketball matchup on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium this afternoon.
Sophomore James LaFrance scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the first half in leading Connecticut College to a nine-point halftime lead it would not relinquish, hitting all four of his three-point tries as part of 8-of-10 shooting in the first half overall, while adding eight rebounds, four assists and a steal in the Camels season-opener.
Junior Greg Cantwell added a double-double of 13 points, aided by 10-of-13 shooting from the free-throw line, and a game-best ten rebounds, three assists, four steals and a blocked shot. Classmate Dylan Watson contributed 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-4 from three, two rebounds and two assists for the Camels, while first-year Cole Craffey chipped in 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, making his lone three with two boards off the bench.
Senior Linus Helmhold scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the second half for Emerson, draining 10-of-11 free-throws with eight rebounds (seven offensive). Senior Jacob Armant matched his season-high with 18 points, including 14 in the first half, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while sophomore Giulio Volonte chipped in season-highs of eight points and three boards.
Emerson started fast, grabbing an early nine-point lead (16-7) after Armant capped an 11-0 run with a pair of free throws after draining a three-pointer earlier in the run. Connecticut College found its legs and followed with ten-straight points to reclaim the lead (17-16) on a Craffey jumper midway through the first half, while sophomore Garrett Clar and LaFrance connected on three-pointers for the Camels.
The lead went back and forth over the next eight minutes before Connecticut College closed the half with an 11-2 run in which LaFrance scored every Camel point, including a trio of three-pointers, to carry an eight-point lead (42-34) into halftime. The Camels extended the lead to 13 with five-straight points by Watson over the first two minutes of the second half.
Connecticut College maintained a lead between nine and 12 points until a 12-2 run saw that advantage grow to 22 (73-51) after three-straight points from LaFrance with five minutes to play. Emerson would not go down without a fight, drawing to within seven (78-71) after two free-throws by Volonte with a minute to go but could get no closer.
Noteworthy
- Armant finished the weekend with a pair of 18-point games for Emerson and has now scored in double-figures 33 times in his career with his fifth-straight double-digit game dating back to last season.
- Helmhold notched his second 20-point game of the season and fifth of his career, marking his 20th career double-digit scoring game.
- Connecticut College finished shooting 49-percent (24-49) from the floor overall, including 11-for-22 (50%) from three-point range, after connecting on 14-25 (56%) shots in the first half, including 6-for-12 (50%) from deep.
- Emerson made 23-of-25 free-throws (92%) in the contest, but couldn't match the Camels shooting overall, hitting at 38.3% (23-60) from the floor, including 3-for-18 (16.7%) from three.
- The Lions posted a 37-28 rebounding edge, finishing with a 21-10 advantage in second chance points.
Up Next
Emerson (1-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) returns to action on Thursday when it is scheduled to travel to Medford to visit No. 4-ranked Tufts University at 7 p.m. The Lions next scheduled home game is Saturday, December 3, when it hosts Wheaton College for a NEWMAC clash on Hank Smith Court at 3 p.m. Connecticut College (1-0, 0-0 NESCAC) hosts SUNY New Paltz on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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