NEWPORT, R.I. (January 28, 2026) – Salve Regina University scored nine-straight points in the final two and a half minutes to secure a 77-74 victory over Emerson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball matchup at Rodgers Recreation Center tonight.
Senior Sean Seymour and junior Pat Spenard each netted a game-high 18 points to lead four from Salve Regina in double-figures. Seymour scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half, while adding four rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Spenard netted ten of his 18 in the first half to go with five boards and two steals.
Senior Jack McMullen added 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, with a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman Rowan Linder contributed 16 points off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting, with two rebounds and three steals.
Junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz led Emerson with 15 points, including 12 in the second half, on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor, connecting on 3-of-5 three-pointers, with four rebounds and three assists. Senior Linus Helmhold added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting, converting 6-of-8 free-throws, with six rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots, while junior Shay Roban tallied 13 points off the bench on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, and three boards. Senior Jacob Armant rounded out the Lions in double figures with ten points, four assists and two rebounds.
Salve Regina turned the ball over just five times in the contest, posting a 19-5 advantage in points off turnovers that offset Emerson's 11 three-pointers (42.3%) and 48.1-percent shooting overall. The Lions held a 33-27 rebounding edge that helped produce a 12-6 margin in second chance points.
Salve scored nine-straight points, sparked by a three-pointer from McMullen and keyed by four points from Spenard, to turn a five-point deficit (70-65) after a Helmhold free-throw with 2:38 to play into a four point lead (74-70) after two Spenard free-throws with 25-seconds remaining. Two free-throws by junior Brendan Taylor drew Emerson back within two (74-72) with 13-seconds on the clock, but the Seahawks held on with 3-of-4 free-throw shooting from there, weathering a Roban three-point try with a second to play, to secure their second win over their last five.
Noteworthy
- Helmhold scored in double figures for the 12th game this season (30th career).
- Gasset Ruiz reached double digits in scoring for the third-straight game and seventh time this season overall (20th career).
- Roban reached double figures for the second-straight game and fifth time this year overall (10th career).
- Salve shot 53.6-percent from the floor (15-for-28) in the first half.
Up Next
Emerson (7-12, 3-7 NEWMAC) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Wheaton College for a NEWMAC matchup at 1 p.m. The Lions return home on Saturday, February 7, to host MIT in NEWMAC play on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium at 1 p.m. Salve Regina (13-5, 6-3 NEWMAC) hosts MIT on Saturday at 3 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.
