Zimmerman Notches 200th Career Win As Emory Men's Basketball Tops LaGrange

Zimmerman Notches 200th Career Win As Emory Men's Basketball Tops LaGrange

Sophomore Matt Schner and senior Gebereal Baitey combined for 44 points in helping the Emory men's basketball team to a Wednesday evening win at home over LaGrange College.  The Eagles raised their overall record to 6-2 following a 96-87 decision over the Panthers who slipped to 4-3.  The victory allowed Emory Head Coach Jason Zimmerman to capture his 200th career win, all of which have come during his 12 years patrolling the Eagles' sideline.

Schner paced the Emory scoring attack with a season-high 24 points (14 in the second half), hitting nine-of-13 from the floor, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, and three free throws.  Baitey also posted a season best, closing out the evening with 20 points that saw him connect on seven-of-13 from field and five-of-five from the charity stripe.  Baitey also doled out three assists and tied for game honors with four steals. Sophomores Matt Davet and Lawrence Rowley each chipped in 14 points, with Rowley leading all players with a career-best 15 rebounds, his third double-double of the season.  Sophomore Romin Williams rounded out Emory's double-figure scoring attack, scoring all 12 of his points over the final 20 minutes of action, with his two three-point field goals running his streak to 16 games with at least one trey.

The Eagles withstood a torrid three-point shooting display by visitors over the second half that saw the Panthers knock down 11-of-20 from distance. On the night, LaGrange hit 17 triples in 39 attempts for a mark of 43.6 percent.

After building a 13-point lead at intermission, Emory opened the second half on a 9-3 spurt, capped by a three-pointer by Schner to extend its advantage to 57-38.  The Panthers got to within 12 points with 15:01 remaining following a three-point field goal by Julian Cameron, one of his six in the contest en route to a game-high 25 points,  before a bucket by Davet, followed by a Williams' triple, pushed Emory to a 70-53 cushion with 13:58 on the clock.  The Eagles still maintained a healthy 16-point moat, 82-66, following a three pointer by Schner with 7:36 left, while a basket by Rowley with 4:06 remaining put the Eagles up by a 94-80 count.  The Panthers then countered with seven straight points by Cameron in a 39-second span to slice Emory's lead to 94-87 with 3:11 on the clock, but their comeback stalled as they were not able to put any points on the board for the rest of the game.

Emory ended the contest shooting 44.6 percent (37-of-83) from the floor compared to LaGrange's 40.5 percent (30-of-74).  While the Eagles were outgunned in three-point shooting, they hit 14-of-18 free throws vs. the Panthers' 10-of-17.  Emory also recorded a season-high 15 steals (tying the 16th-highest game total in school history) that helped generate a 21-14 edge in the points-off-turnovers category.

With Baitey and Davet each scoring 12 points, the Eagles staked themselves to a 48-35 halftime lead.  Emory was successful on 45 percent (18-of-40) of its field goal attempts while the Panthers struggled at 30 percent (12-of-40).  Baitey sank four-of-seven from the floor and all three of his free throw opportunities while Davet found the mark on four-of-nine of his attempts from the field, including a pair of treys.  Holding a 26-23 advantage, the Eagles went on a 20-3 scoring barrage over a five-minute stretch that saw them claim a 46-26 bulge with 2:24 left in the frame.   Emory began the run by making six straight field goals, and eventually went seven-of-eight during the blitz with Davet and Baitey each registering five points.   The Panthers countered with a 9-2 run over the remainder of the half, keyed by triples by Stephen Wagner and Cameron, to cut their deficit to 13 points

The Eagles continue a five-game home stand on Tuesday (Dec. 11) when they play host to Berry College in a 7:00 pm tip.