AMCATS USE LATE SURGE TO EDGE SAINTS, 60-56

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Men's Basketball Team dropped a tough 60-56 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) decision to Anna Maria College on Saturday afternoon in the Jean Yawkey Center.  The AMCATS overcame a ten-point first-half deficit to end their four-game slide and to improve to 2-5 in conference play.  Both teams entered today's contest with identical records on the season, with three wins and ten losses.  The loss drops host Saints to 1-7 in the league.

Coming off their first GNAC win on Wednesday night at Rivier, the Saints jumped out to an early 9-5 lead over the AMCATS, backed by strong guard play from seniors Josh Welles (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Alex Myers (Long Beach, Calif.).  The AMCATs would quickly tie things up at 9-all closing in on the twelve-minute mark in the first half.

EC regained its slim lead at 14-11 after free throws by James Sullivan (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Brandon Jones (Windsor, Conn.).  A put-back by AMCATS forward Pedro Trindade (Billerica, Mass.) made it a one-point game midway through the half.

Buckets by Sullivan and Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, Fla.) were exchanged at opposite ends, before Jordan DeMario (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) drained a triple to put the hosts up five.  Another DeMario trifecta, following an EC timeout, gave the Saints a 25-17 advantage nearing the five-minute mark.

The Saints built a double-figure lead before the break, before the AMCATS recovered with an old-fashioned three-point play by Barillo and a put-back by Quantez Franklin (West Yarmouth, Mass.) to cut their deficit to 27-24 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Barillo led all scorers at the break with 9 first-half points for Anna Maria.  Sullivan and John Clay (Westport, Mass.) led the Saints with 6 points and 8 rebounds, respectively.

Anna Maria knotted the score on its opening possession of the second stanza, when Barillo stuck a baseline trey.  After taking a one-point lead, the AMCATS took advantage of strong post play by Franklin to keep things close and trailed 34-32 with 14:30 on the clock.

Sophomore guard Patrick Bradanese (Billerica, Mass.) scored in the paint and Hugh Daye (Worcester, Mass.) dropped a pair from the line to give the visitors a 45-36 lead with just under ten minutes remaining.  Playing with four fouls, Welles returned to the game and stuck a three-ball from the right wing, before Myers drained one from the opposite side to cut the Saints' deficit to three at 47-44 and force an AMCATS' timeout.

Emmanuel went without a field goal for three minutes, before Sullivan stole the ball in the backcourt and layed it in on the break, making it a one point game with EC trailing, 49-48, at the five-minute mark.

Sullivan gave the Saints a nice spark with a baseline jumper and a put-back, but Emmanuel struggled in its transition defense and continued to send Anna Maria to the line late in the game.  Despite committing 19 turnovers on the day, the AMCATS hit their free throws down the stretch and were able to hang on for the 60-56 win.

Franklin led the way for the AMCATS with his game-high 15 points and 9 rebounds.  Barillo added 14 points, while Kyle McKissick (Charlton, Mass.) chipped in with 8 points and a team-high 11 boards.

Sullivan led Emmanuel with 12 points and 7 rebounds.  Jones hit for 10 points and Myers added 9 for the Saints.  Clay led EC on the glass with his game-high 13 rebounds.

These two teams will do battle again in less than 48 hours, as they complete the home and home conference reciprocation with the GNAC game on the AMCATS' home court.  Monday's conference match-up will be played in Paxton, Mass. and is slated for a noontime tip-off.