BOSTON – The Suffolk men's basketball team dropped a 73-58 non-conference decision to Boston Commons' neighbor Emerson at Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gymnasium Tuesday night.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 58, Emerson 73
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-3) | Emerson (2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michael Hagopian started off hot for Suffolk with the junior scoring eight of the Rams' 10 points as the score tied at 10-all at the 12:08 minute mark. From there, Emerson built a 19-11 lead thanks to an 9-1 run, but Hagopian got the Rams right back in it with a traditional three-point play before George Grillakis knocked down a shot from downtown to trim the margin to five, 22-17, with 5:32 to play before the half.
The Lions rattled off 10 consecutive points to put double digit distance between the Beantown foes. A layup by Jamal Fiin broke up the stretch, but Michael Sheng responded with a layup of his own to send Suffolk into the locker room down 34-19.
Suffolk took one out of Emerson's playbook to open the half as the blue-and-gold strung together 10 unanswered points, including five from Kevin Querusio, over a 2:40 span to pull within five, 34-29. After the Lions' Ben Holding hit a jumper, Hagopian kept the five-point distance in tact thanks to feed by Querusio.
Continuing to look for a comeback, the Rams fell victim to a shooting lull, going scoreless for 3:06 where Emerson rebuilt a 15-point margin, 48-33.
In a game of runs, Suffolk was unable to put another one together as the Lions answered every one of the Rams hoops down the stretch to walk away with the 73-58 win.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Hagopain broke 20-plus points for the first time this season with the junior producing 25 on a 10-for-19 performance from the floor and a 3-for-6 effort behind the arc. He grabbed a team-high five boards to go along with his offensive output.
- Thomas Duffy was second on the team with eight points with Queurios and Grillakis chipping in seven and six, respectively.
- Jim Djema matched Hagopian's team-best five caroms.
NOTEWORTHY
- Hagopian dropped 20 points for the first time in 2017-18 and sixth time in his career.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk takes a break from action for the Thanksgiving holiday and will be back in action Sunday, Nov. 26 as it heads to Salve Regina for a 1 p.m. clash.