WORCESTER, Mass. (January 20, 2026) – Worcester Polytechnic Institute, listed among teams receiving votes in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III poll, shot 56-percent in the second half to pull away for an 84-55 victory over Emerson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball matchup at Harrington Auditorium tonight.
Junior Nathan Bledsoe led four double-figure scorers for WPI with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, with seven rebounds and five steals. Junior Justin Molen added 13 points off the bench on 5-of-8 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, while classmate Jack Bleier scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting off the bench and four rebounds. Postgrad Tim Reidy chipped in 12 points to round out the Engineers in double figures.
Junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz led Emerson with eight points, connecting on 2-of-3 three-pointers and both free-throw attempts, with three rebounds and two steals. Senior Linus Helmhold added six points and five rebounds, while classmate Jacob Armant posted six points, four boards and two steals.
WPI connected on 53.8-percent of its shots from the floor, including 56% in the second half in outscoring Emerson 50-28 after halftime to break open a seven-point (34-27) halftime margin. The Lions were limited to 33.3% shooting, including 28% after halftime, and the Engineers scored 22 points off the Lions 20 turnovers in the game.
Emerson got off to a fast start with three-pointers from Gasset Ruiz and senior Brendan McNamara on its way to a 9-3 edge after a layup from Armant less than four minutes into the game. WPI used 10-2 spurt to grab a three-point lead (20-17) after a three-point play by postgrad Nicholas Margetson with nine minutes remaining in the first half. The Engineers extended the lead to nine (30-21) after a Molen layup with four minutes to go in the half before settling for a seven-point halftime cushion (34-27).
Gasset Ruiz connected from beyond the arc and Armant made two free throws to pull Emerson within four (36-32) less than four minutes into the second half. WPI took over from there, outscoring the Lions 24-3 over the next seven minutes to open a 25-point lead (60-35) after two Reidy free-throws with nine minutes to play and did not look back. Reidy scored seven points for the Engineers during the run, while Molen and Bledsoe added three-pointers.
Noteworthy
- WPI recorded steals on 14 of Emerson's 20 turnovers in the contest.
- 13 different players scored for the Engineers who got 47 points from their reserves.
- Junior Giulio Volonte made his first career start for Emerson.
- Gasset Ruiz led Emerson in scoring for the second time this season and fifth time in his career.
Up Next
Emerson (7-9, 3-4 NEWMAC) is right back in action on Thursday when it hosts Springfield College for a NEWMAC matchup on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium at 7 p.m. WPI (13-3, 6-1 NEWMAC) visits Wheaton College on Thursday at 7 p.m.
For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions via social media on Instagram and online at emersonlions.com powered by SIDEARM Sports.
