BOSTON, Mass. (January 22, 2026) – Springfield College shot 50.7-percent from the floor and scored 27 points off Emerson College turnovers in posting an 89-73 victory in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium tonight.
Senior Josh Hartley led five Springfield players in double-figures with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and five rebounds. Classmate John Paulino added 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, draining both three-pointers, with five rebounds, three assists and four steals, while junior Xoren Livingston totaled 15 points, three rebounds and two steals off the bench for the Pride. Sophomore Hunter Matteson contributed 12 points and seven boards off the bench, while senior Josiah Evely rounded out Springfield's double-figure scorers with ten points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
Senior Jacob Armant led four from Emerson in double figures with 17 points, connecting on 3-of-6 three-pointers, with three rebounds and five assists. Postgrad Asher Gardiner added a season-high 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting off the bench with a season-high matching eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot, while junior Brendan Taylor contributed 11 points as a reserve. Junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz rounded out the Lions double-digit scorers with ten points and five boards.
Emerson used a 14-3 run that was bookended by three-pointers from Armant, who scored five points in all during the stretch, and Taylor to grab an 11-point lead (23-12) with 11:31 to play in the first half. Springfield rallied by outscoring the Lions 29-7 over the remainder of the half, including a 20-3 stretch, to take an 11-point lead into halftime (41-30). Evely sparked the run with a three-pointer and scored eight points in all during the stretch, while Livingston scored eight-straight points to put the Pride in front for good with five minutes left in the frame.
Hartley extended the Springfield lead to 13 (43-30) with a layup to open the second half, but Emerson was able to pull back within four (52-48) when sophomore Hank Gramlich capped a 7-0 spurt. Springfield held there and outscored the hosts 14-6 over the next four minutes to restore its double-digit lead (66-54) following a Livingston layup with eight minutes to go. The Pride went on to seal their second win over the last three by grabbing a 16-point cushion (72-56) with 6:27 remaining after four-straight points from Livingston.
Noteworthy
- Springfield took advantage of Emerson's 16 turnovers, posting a 27-9 advantage in points off, while turning the ball over just eight times themselves.
- The Pride connected on 56.3-percent of their shots in the second half to finish shooting 50.7% from the floor overall.
- Gardiner reached double digits in scoring for the second this season (16th career), leading the Lions in rebounding for the third time (16th career).
- Gardiner and Taylor led an Emerson bench that held a one-point margin (36-35) over the Springfield reserves.
- Armant scored in double figures for the tenth game this season (40th career), leading Emerson scorers for the fourth time this year (13th career).
- Gasset Ruiz made his 70th career start for Emerson tonight.
Up Next
Emerson (7-10, 3-5 NEWMAC) returns to action on Boylston Street on Saturday when it hosts the United States Coast Guard Academy for a NEWMAC matchup on Smith Court at 1 p.m. Springfield (6-11, 4-4 NEWMAC) hosts Wheaton College for a NEWMAC contest on Saturday at 3:30 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.
