Emory Men's Basketball Topped By Chicago

Emory Men's Basketball Topped By Chicago

Sophomore Romin Williams paced six double-figure scorers with 27 points, but it wasn't enough as the Emory men's basketball team dropped a Sunday afternoon home contest to the University of Chicago.  Chicago raised its overall record to 14-8, 7-4 in the University Athletic Association, after rallying for a 114-107 decision over the Eagles who saw a seven-game win streak snapped and its overall record dip to 17-5, 8-3 in the league.

Chicago clawed back from a 14-point deficit early in the second half, outscoring the Eagles by a 70-52 margin over the final 20 minutes of play.  The Maroons connected on 59.4 percent (19-of-32) of their field goal opportunities, including 40 percent (6-of-15) from three-point range, while hitting on 26 free throws in 32 attempts.

Emory led by a 65-51 count with 17:42 left in the contest following a three-point play by sophomore Nick Stuck.  The Maroons responded with an 11-5 spurt that cut Emory's edge to eight points before a pair of free throws by Matt Davet, followed by a layup by Matt Schner, pushed the Eagles to a 74-62 bulge with 14:07 remaining.  Chicago answered with 11 straight points, highlighted by triples by Noah Karras and Cole Schmitz, to draw to within one point with just under 12 minutes left on the clock. After a pair of Davet charity tosses, a 6-0 Maroon run put the visitors up by a 79-76 count, a lead that they would not surrender.  Emory trailed, 81-80, with a 8:57 left after a Schner basket, but misfired on its next five field goal attempts while UC rattled off a 10-1 blitz to take a 91-81 lead with 5:36 left.  The Eagles then staged a comeback of their own, using a pair of treys by Williams, a basket by Stuck and a free throw by Davet to account for a 9-0 run that cut the UC edge to one point with 3:20 on the clock.  After a three-pointer by UC's Jordan Baum, Stuck came back with a basket that put Emory down by a pair.  However, a three-point play by Justin Jackson ignited a 9-0 Chicago charge that put the visitors ahead by a 103-92 margin with 1:11 remaining.   Facing a 10-point obstacle with 37 ticks remaining, Williams scored all five points of a 5-1 run that cut UC's margin to six points with 28 seconds remaining.  However, the Maroons were successful on their final four free throw opportunities, countering a three-pointer by Davet, to earn the win.

Williams ended the afternoon 10-of-22 from the floor, including six-of-14 from distance, in registering his ninth performance of 20 or more points. Davet contributed 19 points, his 18th double-digit effort of the year, and grabbed seven rebounds, while Stuck tied his career high with 18 points, knocking down eight-of-13 from the floor.  Stuck also doled out seven assists and came up with three steals. Rounding out the team's double-figure scorers were Schner (12 pts.) Gebereal Baitey (11 pts.) and Lawrence Rowley (10 pts.).

Chicago finished the game with a slight edge in field goal shooting, converting 47.9 percent (35-of-73) to Emory's 47.7 percent (41-of-86).  The Eagles' 41 field goals were their second-highest total of the year and tied the program's seventh-highest mark.  Emory connected on 40 percent (12-of-30) from distance while the Maroons checked in at 35 percent (14-of-40).  UC shot 83.3 (30-of-36) from the stripe compared to Emory's 59.1 percent (13-of-22).  Chicago enjoyed a 52-38 cushion on the boards, tying an opponent high that it had earlier this season, and grabbed 20 offensive boards which helped generate at 31-15 edge in second-chance points.

Emory returns to action next Friday (Feb. 15) when it plays at Case Western Reserve in an  8:00 pm tip.