Box Score The Emory men's basketball team almost pulled off one of
the greatest come-from-behind efforts in school history Friday
evening but fell short to Brandeis University in a wild overtime
decision. Emory saw its four-game winning streak snapped
following an 86-82 setback, leaving its overall record at 13-4, 4-2
in the University Athletic Association. With the win,
Brandeis boosted its overall record to 13-3, 3-3 in the
conference.
After finding itself in a 19-point hole at halftime, the Eagles
still faced a 20-point uphill climb with just 12:32 remaining in
the contest. However, Emory roared back with a combination of
swarming defense and timely shot making in its spellbinding rally.
After a pair of Vytas Kriskus free throws gave Brandeis a seemingly
comfortable 55-35 lead, Emory began to whittle away at the deficit
with five players scoring, highlighted by five points from freshman
Jake Davis, in a 12-2 run that drew Emory to within 10 with 8:30 on
the clock. Brandeis pulled ahead by 13 points, 63-50, with
6:24 remaining after Kriskus sank two more free throws, but Emory
would close out the rest of the half on a 20-7 blitz that would
force the extra session. A bucket by junior Austin Claunch,
who finished the night with 14 points and six assists, followed by
a three-point field goal by Justin Resnick cut the Judges'
lead to 63-55 with 5:27 left on the clock. Brandeis sank
five-of-six free throws attempts over the next 90 seconds to go up
by a 68-57 margin with just 3:51 remaining. Two free throws
each by sophomore Alex Greven and Resnick kept Emory alive, down
seven points at 68-61, with 2:14 on the clock before a runner by
Greven knocked the gap down to five points. After Brandeis
made one-of-two from the foul line on its next possession, Claunch
raced down the court to score a layup, narrowing the score to
69-65. Greven then deflected the ensuing Brandeis inbounds
pass where it was picked up and scored by senior Julien Williams,
making the score 69-67 in Brandeis favor with just 1:16
remaining. The Judges pushed their advantage to three points
with 20 ticks on the clock when it made one-of-two from the charity
stripe. However, Gulotta forced the overtime when he took a
pass from Claunch and nailed a triple from the corner with five
seconds left. Gulotta finished the evening with 15 points,
hitting six-of-13 from the floor including three-of-seven from
beyond the arc. Brandeis was held without a field goal over the
final 6:44 of regulation, turning the ball over five times and
misfiring on five field goal attempts in that span.
After Brandeis drew first blood in the extra session when Anthony
Trapasso hit a jumper, Gulotta tied the game with a bucket. A
trey gave the host squad gave them a three-point edge but Gulotta
answered that with a triple of his own that knotted things up at
75-75 with 4:07 left. The Eagles would take a two-point lead
with 3:37 remaining following a Williams' bucket, but a pair
of free throws by BU's Tyrone Hughes, who paced all players
with 22 points, tied the game once again. Brandeis went ahead
for good with 1:01 left when a three pointer by Jay Freeman pushed
the Judges ahead, 80-77. Brandeis scored its remaining six
points from the foul line over the final 35 seconds of
overtime.
Brandeis ended the evening shooting 51.9 percent (28-of-54)
while Emory finished at 40.8 percent (31-of-76). The Eagles
connected on just 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from beyond the arc and
were outrebound by a 40-36 margin. The Eagles did register 11
steals, their fourth straight game of double figures in that
department, and turned the ball over just 12 times compared to 21
miscues by Brandeis.
Williams and Davis tied for Emory scoring honors with 16 points
with Williams' effort a season high. Sophomore Michael
Friedberg led Emory with eight rebounds.
Brandeis landed the early blows in the first half, shooting 56.3
percent (18-of-32) from the floor while Emory was limited to 36.4
percent (12-of-33). The Eagles also misfired on all nine of
their three-point field goal opportunities during the opening 20
minutes of play. After a bucket by Claunch cut a Brandeis lead to
18-12, the Judges scored nine of the game's next 13 points to
assume a 27-16 advantage. After back-to-back baskets by
Justin Resnick and Alex Gulotta drew the Eagles to within seven
points, Brandeis closed out the final 4:53 of the stanza on a 16-4
run to take a 43-24 cushion into halftime.
The Eagles return to action on Sunday (Jan. 30) when they play at
New York University in a noon start.