BOSTON, Mass. (January 15, 2026) – Clark University shot nearly 60-percent from the floor in the second half to pull away and record an 82-63 victory over Emerson 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 tonight.
Sophomore Boluwasefe John and freshman Aliaun Iscandari combined for 46 points to lead Clark to its second-straight win. John scored 14 points in each half in recording a game-high 28 for the Cougars on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor, grabbing five of his six rebounds off the offensive glass with two assists, four blocked shots and four steals. Iscandari scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half, adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Quentin Pridgen contributed nine points, six boards, three assists and two steals.
Senior Linus Helmhold led Emerson with 15 points, aided by 9-for-9 shooting at the free-throw line, with six rebounds. Junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, two rebounds and two assists for the Lions.
Emerson held a game-high five-point lead on four occasions over the opening 13 minutes of the contest. Clark followed two Helmhold free-throws with 7:29 to play in the opening half with six-straight points to grab the lead (26-25) with an Iscandari three-pointer three minutes later. After trading baskets for the next minute, the Cougars used an 11-3 spurt to grab a six-point lead (39-33) with a minute remaining following four-straight by John.
Emerson pulled back within a basket twice in the opening minute of the second half, but Clark went on a 15-4 run to open a double-digit lead and extend it to 13 (56-43) after a Pridgen layup with 13:31 on the clock. The Lions were unable to match Clark's 59.3-percent shooting in the half, connecting at just 36%, and the Cougars stretched their lead to 19 (67-48) after another Pridgen layup with eight minutes remaining and the Lions would not threaten again.
Noteworthy
- Helmhold scored in double figures for the fourth-straight game and tenth time this season overall (28th career), leading Emerson in rebounding for the tenth game.
- Gasset Ruiz scored in double digits for the fourth time this season (17th career).
- Clark recorded steals on ten of Emerson's 14 turnovers, producing a 20-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
Up Next
Emerson (7-7, 3-2 NEWMAC) returns to action on Saturday when it visits Babson College for a NEWMAC clash at 3 p.m. The Lions return to Boylston Street next Thursday, January 22, to host Springfield College for a NEWMAC matchup on Smith Court at 7 p.m. Clark (9-6, 4-2 NEWMAC) visits Wheaton College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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