BOSTON, Mass. (January 7, 2026) – Salve Regina University held off a late Emerson College comeback from a 14-point deficit late in the second half to secure a 92-89 overtime victory 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.
Junior Jack Margoupis scored 11 of his game-high 30 points in the overtime period as part of 22 points after halftime to lift Salve Regina to the win. He converted 11-of-12 free-throws and finished 8-of-16 from the floor, including 3-for-6 from three-point distance, making all four shots he took in the extra period, including a three-pointer, and made both free-throw tries. Margoupis also totaled five rebounds and two assists for the Seahawks.
Senior Sean Seymour added 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, with eight rebounds, while junior Domenic Malvey contributed 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Junior Pat Spenard and sophomore Zavier Francoeur rounded out the Seahawks in double figures with 11 points apiece, with Spenard also collecting five boards.
Senior Jacob Armant led Emerson's three double-figure scores with 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, five rebounds, five assists and two steals, while classmate Linus Helmhold posted his second double-double of the season with 19 points and a season-high matching ten rebounds (five offensive). Junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz registered 15 points, burying 4-of-7 three-pointers, with three boards, two assists, a blocked shot and steal.
Gasset Ruiz connected on 4-of-7 three-pointers in netting 15 points with three rebounds, a blocked shot and steal (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce Sports Photography) |
Salve Regina opened the second half with a 18-4 run over the first five minutes that turned a one point Emerson edge (33-32) at the half into a 13-point lead (50-37) after two Margoupis free-throws as he scored the final four points of the run after Spenard scored seven to spark the stretch. The Seahawks added a 9-2 spurt to push their lead to a game-high 14 points (64-50) with 8:28 remaining following six-straight points from Malvey after Emerson had trimmed its deficit to seven (55-48) with a layup from postgrad Asher Gardiner three minutes earlier.
The Salve lead was still 14 (66-52) following a dunk from sophomore William Mensah with 7:39 to play, but Emerson rallied with nine of the next ten points to close within four (67-63) with five minutes still to play. Armant and Gasset Ruiz sparked the run with three-pointers for the Lions.
Salve Regina's lead stretched back to eight (73-65) after two Margoupis free-throws with 3:10 remaining, but the Seahawks would miss eight of 14 free-throw tries down the stretch, with only Margoupis hitting both attempts during the span, to provide a window for Emerson. The Lions got a pair of three-pointers from Gasset Ruiz and another from Armant before junior Shay Roban forced overtime with a triple with 1.2-seconds remaining.
Armant, who scored 15 of his team-high 24 points in the second half, opened the overtime with his third triple of the night to push Emerson back in front, but Salve followed with six-straight, including four from Margoupis to reclaim a three-point lead (85-82) midway through the extra period. Helmhold scored inside to pull the Lions back within two (85-84), but Margoupis connected from deep for a four-point cushion (88-84) with 1:47 on the clock. He stretched the Seahawks advantage to five (90-85) with two free throws on their next trip and while the visitors missed all four free-throw attempts in the final minute, Emerson was unable to capitalize, missing a three-pointer and two free-throws in the closing 30-seconds.
Noteworthy
- Emerson was dealt its first NEWMAC setback of the season with its third-straight defeat overall, while Salve has won its first two Conference matchups.
- Salve Regina finished shooting 62.3-percent (33-53) from the floor, including 6-for-15 (40%) from three-point distance, making 5-of-6 shots in overtime.
- The Seahawks missed 16 free-throws in the matchup, finishing 20-for-36 (55.6%) from the line.
- Emerson shot 45.7% (32-70) from the field, including 14-for-33 (42.4%) from three-point range, but also struggled at the free-throw line at 11-for-20 (55%).
- Armant scored in double figures for the second-straight game and ninth game this season overall (39th career) with his second 20-point game of the season (fifth career).
- Helmhold scored in double digits for the eighth time this season (26th career) with his sixth career double-double, pulling down double-digit rebounds for the third time this year (eight career).
- Gasset Ruiz notched his third double figure scoring game of the season (16th career), connecting on three plus three-pointers for the third time this year (eighth career).
- Emerson held a 37-35 rebounding edge, outscoring Salve 14-5 in second chance points.
- Six different Emerson players connected from three-point distance as the Lions matched their season high with 14 triples.
- Junior Caden Zurek made his first career start for Emerson tonight.
Up Next
Emerson (6-6, 2-1 NEWMAC) will have the weekend off before it looks to get back on track on Tuesday at MIT at 6:30 p.m. The Lions return to Boylston Street two days later to host Clark University on Hank Smith Court next Thursday, January 15, at 7 p.m. Salve Regina (9-2, 2-0 NEWMAC) hosts Clark on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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