EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry University Men's Basketball Team (6-3, 2-2 SAC) made it back-to-back South Atlantic Conference wins Saturday as the Wasps downed Newberry College (5-4, 2-3 SAC) at home. E&H established a seven-point halftime lead, then held off a late charge from the Wolves to pick up the 80-74 victory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 80, Newberry 74
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – John Rutledge King Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (6-3, 2-2 SAC); Newberry (5-4, 2-3 SAC)
How It Happened
- Sophomore guard Sam Ritchie (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) had the hot hand at the start of the contest, as he knocked down a pair of jumpers from long range to give the Wasps an early 11-6 advantage. A quick 10-2 run from the visitors saw them pull ahead 16-13 at the 10:42 mark of the first half, but Ritchie responded with two more three balls to put the Wasps back in front 22-16.The teams traded blows through the middle stages of the opening frame and E&H held a 34-25 lead with 4:15 to play thanks to a three from sophomore guard Korbin Dixon (Milton, Ontario, CANADA). E&H managed to maintain their advantage and took the 39-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.
- The Wolves came out firing to begin the second half and quickly took a 47-45 lead in the first five minutes of play. Ritchie came to life once more as a jumper and another three pushed the Wasps back in front at 50-48. The teams traded the lead several times over the following three and a half minutes and a layup from Dixon gave E&H the 65-59 advantage at the midpoint of the frame. The Wolves would not go quietly, and pulled back level with the Wasps at 69-69 with 5:30 to play. E&H held a four-point margin with a minute to go, but the Wolves knocked down a pair of chances at the charity stripe to make it a two-point game once more with 50 seconds left, forcing an Emory & Henry timeout. Junior guard Jackson Crawford (Daleville, Va.) was clutch down the stretch as he knocked down a jumper and made a pair of free throws to clinch the 80-74 win.
Emory & Henry Leaders
- Ritchie was the catalyst for the Wasps as he finished with a career-high 27 points, 9-for-12 from the field and 6-for-8 from beyond the three-point arc. He also had three rebounds and a steal. Dixon posted 23 points, four helpers, two boards and a steal.
- Crawford recorded nine points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal while senior forward Assad Madassalia (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added seven points, seven rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocked shots.
Newberry Individual Leaders
- Drake Downs led the Wolves with a team-high 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Malakhi Stremlow finished with 15 points, four rebounds and a trio of assists.
- Houston Jones contributed 14 points, three rebounds and an assist while Drew Robinson added nine points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry shot a blistering 50.0 percent (27-for-54) from the field, hitting 11 three-pointers (42.3%). The Wasps went 15-for-20 (75.0%) at the free throw line.
- Newberry made a respectable 25-of-52 (48.1%) of their shots and was 6-for-18 (33.3%) from deep. The Wolves converted 81.8 percent (18-of-22) of their free throws.
- The Wolves outrebounded the Wasps 34-26, and held a 16-8 advantage on second chance points.
- Emory & Henry won the turnover battle, forcing 13 compared to committing a season-low eight. The Wasps capitalized on the miscues to the tune of 16 points off turnovers, while the Wolves could manage only nine.
- The Wolves forced the ball inside as they recorded 32 points in the painted area while the Wasps tallied 26.
- Emory & Henry got out in transition as the Wasps outscored the Wolves 11-2.
- The E&H bench tallied 34 points, compared to just eight for Newberry.
- The contest saw seven ties and eight lead changes.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry hits the road again on Wednesday, December 17 when the Wasps travel to take on Lincoln Memorial University. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. as the nightcap of a doubleheader with the women's team.
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