Sophomore Matt Davet led three-double figure scorers with a game-high 23 points but it wasn't enough as the Emory University men's basketball came out on the short end of a Saturday afternoon contest at Rochester in the University Athletic Association opener for both clubs. The Eagles saw their five-game win streak end and overall record slip to 9-3 following an 87-76 setback to the No. 17 Yellowjackets who improved their record to 11-1.
Davet sank nine-of-15 field goal attempts and went four-of-four from the charity stripe in registering his 10th double-figure outing of the campaign and fifth of 20 or more points. Classmates Romin Williams and Lawrence Rowley were Emory's other double-digit producers with 17 and 15 points, respectively. Rowley also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, the eighth time this year that he ranked as the team's leader in that category.
Rochester took advantage of its opportunities during the opening 20 minutes of action, using a 10-0 run over a 1:51 stretch to bolt to a 21-5 lead with 15:06 left in the stanza. The Yellowjackets would lead by as many as 17 points on two occasions and maintained a 30-14 cushion with 8:05 remaining in the half. Emory clawed its way back into contention after a 23-12 run over the final 7:54, which saw Williams and Rowley both score seven points and Gebereal Baitey and Davet account for five and four points, to narrow the deficit to 42-37 heading into the break. UR shot 48.4 percent (15-of-31) from the floor and hit five three-point field goals in 13 attempts compared to Emory's 36.7 showing (11-of-30) from the field and 23.1 percent mark (3-of-13) from beyond the arc.
Emory stayed within five points early in the second half following a bucket by Davet with 16:52 on the clock. A 12-6 Rochester spurt pushed it to a 66-54 lead with 11:35 remaining, and when a basket by Williams drew the Eagles to within 10 points, the Yellowjackets cemented control of the contest with a 13-6 charge that extended their cushion to 79-62 with 5:44 left. Rochester was able to fend off Emory over the final 20 minutes by converting 56 percent (14-of-25) of its field goal attempts while the Eagles were successful on 41.9 percent (13-of-31).
Rochester wound up the afternoon knocking down 51.8 percent (29-of-56) of its field goal opportunities, including 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from beyond the arc. Emory shot a season-low 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the floor. The Yellowjackets, who were led by Ryan Clammage's 22 points, held a slim 36-33 edge in rebounding.
Emory returns to action next Friday (Jan. 11) when it plays at Washington University in a 9:00 pm (EST) start.