ODAC-leading Emory & Henry proved their worth on Tuesday evening, holding off the Eastern Mennonite basketball men 93-73 in Emory, Va.
The Wasps scored first in the game, but EMU wasn't far behind as the two teams battled to an 11-all tie at the 16:20 mark in the first half.
Emory & Henry scored on the next three possessions for six points to take the game to 17-11. After RaShawn Latimer (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) drained a three pointer, the game was stalled at 17-14 for the next 2:03 minutes of play. The Wasps then went on a 10-2 run in an effort for their largest lead of the half, making it 31-22.
With 6:57 remaining, Maleke Jones (Charles Town, W.V. / Washington) sparked the Royals to respond with an 8-1 run, making it 32-30. Latimer added five in the run, and got help from Jones and DJ Hill (Woodbridge. Va. / Hylton)
However, it was Emory & Henry that had the final run of the half as they scored on eight of the last 10 points to take a 42-33 lead into the locker room.
The Wasps rolled into the second half with all the momentum and scored the first four points to get a double digit lead at 46-33.
EMU began to chip away at the margin, after Kendall Hawkins (Charlottesville, Va. / Albemarle) scored on back-to-back possessions for the Royals to bring the game back within six points at 53-46. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to spark the difference as Emory & Henry went on to extend the lead to 63-48 with 10:10 left to play.
Isaiah Harris-Winn (Frederick, Md. / St. Maria Goretti) capped the final run for the Royals from beyond the arc, bringing the deficit within seven but that was the closest EMU remained on the night as the Wasps built an irreversible lead.
Despite shooting 27-for-58 (46.6%) from the floor with three nines and connecting on 10-of-14 (71.4%) of its free throw attempts, EMU couldn't make up the disparity between rebounds and turnovers. The Runnin Royals ended with eight more turnovers than the Wasps, who went 11-5 on second chance points. Emory & Henry also held the advantage in boards, 42-28.
Jones and Latimer led the way, each charting 16 points, with Jones adding three helpers and three steals and Latimer contributing three rebounds and three assists.
Harris-Winn went 4-for-4 from three en route to a 15-point performance.
Five players reached double figures for Emory & Henry, as Daniel Spencer led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds.
The loss drops EMU to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Runnin Royals head to Bridgewater College this weekend to compete in the Don Glick Classic, taking on Apprentice School on Friday at 5:30 and Keystone on Saturday at 1:00.