Sophomore Romin Williams led five double-figure scorers with 20 points as the Emory men's basketball team posted a Tuesday evening win at home over Berry College. The Eagles won for the third straight time and raised their record to 7-2 following a 92-83 decision over the Vikings who slipped to 7-2.
Williams went six-of-15 from the floor and converted all seven of his free throw opportunities in dialing up his eighth straight double-digit performance. In addition to his point total, Williams led all players with a season-high seven assists and four steals. Senior Gebereal Baitey turned in an 18-point evening, his fifth double-figure outing of the campaign, knocking down seven-of-10 from the field, including a pair of triples, and both of his free throw attempts. The sophomore tandem of Lawrence Rowley and Matt Davet each chipped in 16 points while classmate Matt Schner produced a dozen.
Berry finished the contest sinking 55.7 percent (34-of-61) of its field goal tries to Emory's 50.8 percent (33-of-65), but the Eagles hit seven treys to the Vikings' two. Emory was sharper at the charity stripe as well, sinking 19-of-24 vs. 12-of-20 for Berry. The Eagles have shot 70 percent or better from the foul line in eight games this year.
Wlliams, Davet and Rowley all tallied 10 points during the opening 20 minutes of play in helping Emory to a 47-37 edge at the break. Three-point shooting was key in the first half as the Eagles connected on six triples in 17 attempts while Berry hit just one of its seven attempts. A 16-2 blitz by Emory, which saw Williams score six points, over a four-minute stretch extended a five-point Eagles' lead to 38-19 with 6:28 left in the frame. Emory still held a 16-point cushion following a trey by Davet with 3:23 on the clock, but Berry narrowed the gap by closing out the half on a 10-4 run.
Berry got to within five early in the second half, but a jumper by Davet followed by three free throws by Williams pushed Emory back to a double-digit lead with 15:02 remaining. Berry cut the Emory lead to seven points with 8:29 remaining, but a three-pointer by Baitey allowed the Eagles to push ahead by a 74-64 count. From that point, the closest the Vikings would get would be eight points as Emory answered each Berry attempt to slice into the deficit. Ahead by a nine-point margin, Emory sealed the outcome following buckets by senior Beau Bommarito and Davet to claim a 88-75 lead with 2:29 remaining.
Emory will now break for final exams and the holidays before returning to action on Dec. 29 when it entertains Oswego in a 4:00 pm tip.