Emory Men's Basketball Drops Overtime Decision At Chicago

Emory Men's Basketball Drops Overtime Decision At Chicago

Sophomore Matt Davet totaled a career-high 27 points to lead three double-figure scorers but it wasn't enough as the Emory men's basketball team came out on the short end of Sunday afternoon overtime verdict at the University of Chicago.  The Maroons upped their overall record to 10-4, 3-0 in the University Athletic Association, following a 96-86 verdict over the Eagles who dipped to 10-4 overall, 1-2 in the league.

Emory faced a 12-point deficit with 16:30 left in the game before going on a 10-2 spurt, with sophomore Romin Williams tallying five points in that run, to cut the margin to four points.  Chicago built its lead back to eight points with 5:05 on the clock after a drive to the rim by Cole Schmitz, but the Eagles responded with an 8-0 charge, the last four points coming from Davet, to knot the score at 77-77 with 2:54 left.  A three-pointer by the Maroons' Jordan Baum just as the shot clock was expiring put the hosts up by an 83-79 count with 30 ticks on the clock, but a pair of free throws by sophomore Lawrence Rowley cut the gap to a pair with 25 seconds remaining.  On its next possession, Chicago made one-of-two from the stripe, pushing it to an 84-81 edge.  The Eagles then tied the score with 11 ticks on the clock when Davet buried a three pointer.  The Maroons had the final shot in regulation, but an off-balance three pointer missed the mark.

UC scored the first ten points in the overtime as Emory misfired on its first eight field goal tries while turning the ball on three occasions.  The Eagles got on the board with 25 seconds left when Clay Washburn came through with a bucket. Cole Schmitz led Chicago in scoring with 23 points, going nine-of-17 from the field and four-of-six from distance.

Davet closed out the contest nine-of-15 from the field, including three-of-five from distance, and was successful on all six of his free throw attempts in registering his 12th double-figure scoring game of the season and seventh of 20 or more points.  Williams accounted for 18 points, his 12th double-digit outing of the season, and doled out six assists, while sophomore Lawrence Rowley cracked double figures for the 13th time this year, contributing 15 points after converting six-of-10 from the field and three-of-four from the foul line.

Emory enjoyed the edge in field goal shooting, sinking 47 percent (31-of-66) to UC's 42 percent (34-of-81). The Maroons made use of the trey ball in the win, draining 14 (second-highest opponent total vs. Emory this year)-of-36 for a 38.9 percent showing compared to Emory's 36.4 percent (8-of-22). Chicago held a 52-40 bulge in rebounding, 22-8 on the offensive end that helped it record a 29-8 cushion in second-chance points.

Thanks to some keen three-point shooting during the opening half, the Maroons took a 45-36 lead into the break.  UC connected on 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from beyond arc while registering a 46 percent effort (17-of-37) from the floor. Emory shot the ball as well draining 56 percent (14-of-25) of its field goal opportunities including 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range.  A 9-3 Chicago spurt midway through the half, keyed by a pair of triples, pushed it to a 31-21 lead with 7:27 on the clock.  A bucket by Rowley, followed by a trey by Gebereal Baitey, sliced the gap to five points, but a three-point play by Brennan McDaniel and a triple by Cole Schmitz extended the Maroons cushion to 37-26 with 3:51 on the clock.  Davet led the Emory scoring attack with 10 points, sinking four-of-six from the field, including both his triple tries, while Schmitz topped all players in the first half with 14 points, knocking down five field goals in seven attempts including three treys. UC enjoyed a 21-14 edge on the glass with 10 offensive boards generating 16 second-chance points.

Emory returns to action next Friday (Jan. 18) when it hosts Case Western Reserve in an 8:00 pm start.