Freshman Matt Davet led three Emory double-figure scorers with a season-high 22 points in sparking the No. 7-ranked Emory men's basketball team to a Senior Day Sunday win over Brandeis University. The Eagles won for the fourth straight time and raised their overall record to 20-4, 11-2 in the University Athletic Association, following an 82-69 decision over the Judges who slipped to 6-18 overall, 2-11 in the league.
Emory used a strong second half in securing the program's sixth season of 20 or more wins, outscoring Brandeis by a 38-23 margin over the final 20 minutes of action. The Eagles held BU to just 29.6 percent (8-27) from the floor while connecting on 51.7 percent (15-29) in the decisive stanza.
Davet closed out the contest sinking eight-of-14 field goal attempts, including five triples in eight tries, in notching his 10th double-figure scoring effort. Senior Donald Avant, made the most of his first career start, racking up a career-best 17 points on a perfect seven-of-seven from the field, while adding three free throws. Avant also snatched a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman Romin Williams chalked up 14 points, his 19th double-digit outing of the season. Senior Whit Rapp, who became the program's all-time leader in assists on Friday, doled out nine more with no turnovers in 34 minutes.
With the game tied for the 12th time at 57-57 with 12:50 on the clock, the Eagles seized control of the game with a 10-0 charge, highlighted by a pair of Davet three pointers and closed out with a bucket by Avant, to stake itself to a 67-57 cushion with 9:22 on the clock. The Judges got to within nine points with 5:48 on the clock, but a basket by junior Gebereal Baitey followed by a layup by Adam Gigax extended the Eagles' edge to 78-65 with just under five minutes remaining.
For the game, Emory was successful on 48.5 percent (32-66) from the floor, including 36.4 percent (8-22) from three-point range. Brandeis checked in a 42.3 percent (22-52) from the floor was connected on 42.9 percent (9-21) from distance. Emory held a 38-29 margin in rebounding and turned the ball over a season-low eight times.
Brandeis shot a keen 56 percent (14-25) from the floor including 72.7 percent (8-11) from beyond the arc in claiming a 46-44 edge at halftime. BU held a 27-23 edge with 9:34 left in the frame before Emory went on an 8-0 spurt with Davet scoring the first five and Romin Williams hitting a bucket, to take a 31-27 advantage with 6:11 on the clock. A jumper by Donald Avant put Emory ahead by a 38-35 margin, but an 11-2 spurt by the Judges, keyed by eight points from Lawrence Sabir, gave the visitors a 46-40 lead with 35 ticks. A rare four-point play by Williams with one second on the clock closed out the scoring for the half. Emory connected on 45.9 percent (17-37) from the floor and was led in scoring by Davet's 14 points. Donald Avant totaled 11 points over the opening 20 minutes and grabbed six rebounds.
Emory's 11 wins in UAA play ties the 2011 and 2016 squads for the school's second-highest win total in conference action. The 1989-90 unit holds the top mark with 13 triumph.
Emory, which closed out the home portion of the regular-season schedule with a 12-1 slate, returns to action next Saturday when it plays at Rochester.