Box
Emory sophomore Alex Gulotta came off the bench to score a
career-high 17 points to lead three double-figure scorers as the
Eagles captured a win at New York University Friday evening.
The Eagles notched their fourth straight win and raised their
overall record to 11-4, 3-1 in the University Athletic Association,
following a 69-57 win over the Violets who slipped to 10-5 overall
(1-3 UAA).
Gulotta sank six-of-10 from the floor, including five-of-seven from
three-point range, in registering his third double-figure scoring
effort of the year. Gulotta scored 12 of his final total
during the second half in helping the Eagles to a 41-25 scoring
advantage over NYU. Sophomore guard Austin Claunch played a
solid floor game, finishing with 14 points and five assists.
Senior Anthony Fernandez rounded out Emory's double-figure scorers
with 10 points.
NYU outshot Emory from the floor, 44.0 percent (21-of-48) to 35
percent (23-of-66), but the Eagles made up for that by hitting the
offensive glass hard, finishing the evening with 18 caroms on that
end. In addition, Emory took care of the ball, turning it
over just five times while the Violets suffered 18 miscues.
Emory trailed by a 39-35 count early in the second half before
using a decisive 18-4 barrage to take a 53-43 lead. Gulotta
keyed the spurt with a pair from distance, including a bomb that
gave the Eagles the lead for good, 45-52 with 10:59 on the clock,
while junior Julien Williams also came through with a trey in that
stretch. The closest the NYU would get would get the rest of
the game would be four points. The Eagles kept NYU out of
reach down the stretch with excellent free throw shooting,
converting all 10 of their opportunities over the last 4:52 of the
contest with Claunch accounting for eight of those makes.
Emory trailed for the bulk of the first half and ended the stanza
shooting just 30 percent from the floor (12-of-40) compared to
NYU's mark of 46.6 percent (12-of-26). Emory stayed in the
game with 13 offensive rebounds in the opening stanza. The
Eagles trailed by eight points on two occasions, the latest being a
27-19 deficit with 4:17 left. However, Emory closed out the
half on a 9-5 spurt that cut NYU's advantage to 32-28 at
halftime. Gulotta, Fernandez and Williams all notched five
points for the Eagles in the opening 20 minutes.
The Eagles return to action on Sunday (Jan. 24) when it plays at
Brandeis University.