Boston, MA --- Nate Martin (Great Falls, VA) canned a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining and intercepted the inbounds pass to complete a 14-point Emerson comeback in a 73-70 victory over visiting WPI Saturday afternoon in Brown & Plofker Gym.

With the win, the Lions (13-10, 8-4 NEWMAC) also achieved the feat of defeating each NEWMAC foe at least once in 2018-19 while the regionally-ranked Engineers dip to 17-6 and 8-4.

Emerson was paced by Jarred Houston (Norwood, MA) who was tied for a game high 20 points.  He connected on 7.8 shots from the floor, grabbing six rebounds, blocking two shots, and assisting on one Lion basket. Three other starters scored in double figures for Emerson; Zach Waterhouse (Hampton, NH) scored 16 while Geoffrey Gray (Newton, MA) scored 15.  Gray added nine rebounds, eight assists, and one steal.  Waterhouse grabbed six rebounds. Jack O'Connor (Newport, RI) scored 14 point for the Lions with six rebounds and four assists.

Reid Walker (Lithia, Fla.) tied Houston for a game high 20 points.  He also added seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Jake Needleman (Morganville, NJ) scored 16 for the Engineers, connecting on half of his three point attempts (3-6). Ethan Harrell (Wexford, Penn.) came off the bench to score 17 points and grab six rebounds.  He went 100% from the free throw line (5-5).

WPI took control early, opening up an eight point lead on a Kahleb Downing (Middletown, CT) three pointer six minutes into the first half. A Walker layup extended the lead to 10 at 17-7. After being down as many as eleven, Emerson went on a 6-0 run capped off by an O'Connor jumper to cut the lead to five. The Engineers later brought the lead back up to ten on a pair of Harrell free throws to make the score 28-18. Emerson roared back closing out the half on a 16-6 run, headlined by two Waterhouse three pointers, tying the game at 34 a piece heading into the break. 

After two straight baskets by the Lions to start the second half, WPI went on a 14-3 run, opening up a 10 point lead at 55-45. After a Houston jumper, Needleman converted back to back three pointers to extend the lead to 14 for WPI, their largest of the day. Emerson roared back, converting a 17-4 run and cutting the lead to one on a Houston layup with three minutes remaining. Five straight points for Harrell extended WPI's lead back to four after a Houston layup.

O'Connor and Houston both converted a pair of free throws, tying the game at 70. Emerson then came up with a defensive stop, giving them possession in the tied game.  Gray went up for a jumper that was well defended, and kicked out to Nate Martin.  Martin took a three pointer with one second remaining on the shot clock, sinking the shot to put Emerson up three with 2.9 remaining. After a timeout by WPI, Martin stole the inbounds pass and dribbled out the clock, giving Emerson the 73-70 victory.

Both teams are on the road at 7pm on Wednesday. Emerson travels to Babson and WPI travels to Springfield.

Majority Release Courtesy Emerson Sports Information