BOSTON, Mass. (December 6, 2025) – Emerson College shot 62-percent from the floor in the second half and used a balanced offensive effort to claim a hard-fought 79-76 victory over Wheaton College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball matchup on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium this afternoon.

Sophomore Hank Gramlich made all four shots he took from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and converted all three free-throws for a career-high 13 points in providing a spark off the bench and lead a balanced offensive effort for Emerson, adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Senior Brendan McNamara also netted a season-high 13 points with four assists, while junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz rounded out the Lions in double-figures with a season-best 12 points, connecting in 4-of-5 three-pointers with three rebounds and two assists.

Senior Jacob Armant chipped in seven points, five rebounds, an assist and steal for Emerson, while postgrad Asher Gardiner pulled down a team and season-high eight rebounds with five points.

Senior Tristan Herry and junior Dimetri Iafrate combined for 44 points to lead Wheaton. Herry converted 12-of-16 free-throws on his way to a game-high 23 points, three rebounds, two assists a blocked shot and steal, while Iafrate added 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, converting all six free-throws, with six assists and five steals. Senior Eoin Morrissey rounded out the Lyons in double figures with ten points and five boards.

Emerson used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to turn a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead (16-7) behind three-straight three-pointers by Gasset Ruiz (two) and Gramlich. Wheaton responded with a 14-5 run, led by eight points from Iafrate, to pull even (21-21) with 6:51 remaining in the half. The Lions reclaimed a six-point cushion (28-22) after a jumper by sophomore Giulio Volonte two minutes later and then carried a seven-point lead (38-31) into halftime.

Wheaton went on a 12-2 run early in the second half behind seven points from Herry to take the lead back (54-52) on three-straight free-throws by Iafrate. Emerson answered with an 11-3 spurt, led by five points from Gramlich and sparked by a three-point play by Armant, to reclaim a six-point cushion (63-57) with 8:49 remaining.

Wheaton again grabbed the lead behind an 11-3 run in which it scored six points at the free-throw line before senior Sal Pedevillano drained a three and Morrisey scored a jumper for a two-point lead (72-70) with three minutes to play.

After trading three-pointers, Armant put Emerson in front for good with a three-point play and the Lions held Wheaton without a field goal for the final 2:23, outscoring the visitors 6-1 the rest of the way and seal the win.

Noteworthy

• Emerson is off to a 2-0 start in NEWMAC play for the first time since a 3-0 start to the 2022-23 Conference season.
• Gramlich's career-high 13 points marks the second double-figure scoring game of his career and led a 37-11 scoring advantage by the Emerson bench against the Wheaton reserves today.
• McNamara scored in double figures for the second-straight game and 31^st time in his Emerson career.
• Gasset Ruiz made his 60^th career start and reached double figures for the first time this season and 14^th time in his career.
• Emerson finished with a 36-25 rebounding advantage and finished shooting 50-percent from the floor (25-for-50), including 11-for-21 (52.4%) from three-point distance.
• Wheaton shot 42.9% (21-49) from the field, including 7-for-25 (28%) from three, but outscored the Lions 27-18 at the free-throw line.

Up Next
Emerson (4-3, 2-0 NEWMAC) returns to action on Wednesday when it visits Bridgewater State University for a non-conference matchup at 6 p.m. The Lions don't return to Boylston Street until after the New Year when they host Bowdoin College for a non-conference clash on Hank Smith Court on Saturday, January 3, at 1 p.m. Wheaton (6-3, 1-1 NEWMAC) is off until after the holidays when it faces Middlebury College at the Go 4 the Goal Tournament at Medgar Evers College on Sunday, December 28, at 3 p.m.

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