Box Score Box
Emory sophomore Jake Davis scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the first half and the Eagles knocked down 10 three-point field goals in recording a 95-63 victory at Berry College Tuesday evening. The victory raised the No. 13-ranked Eagles' record to 3-0 while Berry fell to 0-4.
Davis ended the night hitting nine-of-14 from the floor, including two-of-four from three-point range in pacing the squad in scoring for the third straight game. His 21 points tied his second-highest total and represented his fourth career outing of 20 or more points. Seniors Austin Claunch and Alex Gulotta each totaled 10 points with Claunch also doing out a season-high seven assists. By the time the game had ended 13 of the 17 Emory players who saw action found their way into the scoring column.
Emory sank 51 percent (41-of-80) of its field goal opportunities on the night while the host Vikings checked in at 36 percent (22-of-61). Both teams finished with a 32 percent mark from three-point range with the Eagles draining 10-of-31 from distance and Berry six-of-19. The Eagles enjoyed a decided 47-31 bulge in rebounding, led by Davis and junior Michael Friedberg with six boards apiece. Emory also harassed Berry into 20 turnovers while committing just 13 miscues of its own.
Davis was nearly unstoppable during the opening 20 minutes of play, hitting eight-of-11 from the floor, including two-of-three from three-range. Senior Justin Resnick accounted for all nine of his points in the opening stanza on the strength of three treys while Austin Claunch contributed eight points. Emory hit 47.0 percent of its field goal attempts (20-of-43) and converted six-of-19 opportunities from three-point range. The Eagles outrebounded the Vikings by a 23-13 margin.
With the score knotted at 10-10, Berry rattled off seven straight points, to take a 17-10 with 12:09 left in the half. However, Emory unleashed a 22-9 run over five-minute stretch to surge to a 32-19 lead. Davis scored 10 points in the outburst, including a pair of triples while Resnick also knocked down a pair from downtown. After Berry drew to within 11 points following a basket by Lake Graham, the Eagles got further separation with a 13-4 sprint over the final 4:55, with five different players scoring in that stretch, to assume a 47-27 cushion at halftime.
Emory kept on the gas pedal in the second half, opening the stanza with a 23-5 blitz that pushed the score to 70-32 with 12:25 left in the contest. Gulotta got things rolling with back-to-back triples to open the half while freshman Alex Foster scored seven straight points as part of a 15-0 spree that helped give the Eagles the 38-point margin. Emory reserves took over from there with that group using a 9-0 run at one point to give Emory its biggest lead of the night at 40 points, 89-49, with 2:48 remaining.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday (Nov. 26) when it plays LaGrange College at the Maryville College Classic. Tip is slated for 5:00 p.m.