SEWANEE, Tenn. - The Sewanee men's basketball team captured a 97-85 victory over Johnson University (Tenn.) to open the 2019-20 season Friday night from Juhan Gymnasium in the first day of the Lon Varnell Classic. Additionally, head coach Brian Emerson, in his third year overall with the program and the first as the head coach, earned his first win.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score: Sewanee (1-0) 97, Johnson (2-1) 85
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HOW IT HAPPENED
-Despite the Royals making it a one-possession contest, 13-10, with 15:45 left in the opening half, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run to make it a 21-10 lead in favor of the home team.

-Johnson had a lead a few times in the first half, but it was Sewanee who held the slight advantage, 49-47, at the break.

-The second half decided the contest, as the Tigers sprinted out to a 19-4 run to lead 68-51 with 15 minutes left in the contest.

SEWANEE KEY STATISTICS
-Joey Knox earned a career-high 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting and seven rebounds.

-Ryan Starr drained all 10 attempts from the charity stripe, as the sophomore finished with 25 points and added six rebounds and assists each.

-Jordan Warlick posted 11 points, while Adrian Thomas dropped 10 points and corralled nine boards.

-Jack Holloway, off the bench, had six rebounds, four on the offensive glass.

-As a team, Sewanee posted 27-of-31 (87.1%) from the free-throw line.

JOHNSON KEY STATISTICS
-Coby Jones led the Royals with 35 points off 13-of-19 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line and nine rebounds.

-Taylor Cresswell added 14 points off the bench and Gavin Grubb posted 11 points.

UP NEXT
Sewanee will wrap up the Lon Varnell Classic on Saturday with mountain rival Covenant.

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