The Emmanuel College Saints defeated the Suffolk University Men's Basketball team 84-75 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) on Tuesday evening in the Regan Gymnasium.

Sophomores Julien Diggs (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Kyle Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) each scored 17 points to pace the Saints' offense as they improve to a 4-6 overall mark and pull even at 2-2 in GNAC play on the season.

Junior Branden Barboza (Riverside, R.I.) recorded the double-double in the setback for Suffolk as he led all players with 12 rebounds and also added 14 points. Senior Sam Nwadike (Houston, Tx.) finished with a team-high 16 points for Suffolk who drop their third straight contest to move to 5-6 on the year.

Emmanuel held the lead for the majority of the contest as they pulled into the half with a 39-34 lead going into the break.

The Saints would push their lead to as many as 14 points with 6:42 remaining when sophomore Tyler Russ (Stratham, N.H.) knocked down a jumper to make it a 70-56 contest.

Suffolk would answer going on an 11-2 run to bring it to a two possesion game when junior Jake Meister (Madison, N.J.) knocked down one his game's two three-pointers to make it 72-67 with 3:56 remainging.

Diggs would connect on a pair of free throws, before feeding junior Kyle Davis (Groveland, Mass.) down low to push the Saints lead back up to nine points with three minutes remaining.

A layup by junior Caleb Unni (Winchester, Mass.) would bring Suffolk back within five points at 76-71 with 2:35 remaining but the Saints would close out the victory from the free throw line.

Smith would knock down four free-throws and also add an assist in the closing minutes as he totaled 16 points (4-for-6 from the field) in the second half.

Diggs scored 10 of his game total in the final twenty minutes as well for the Saints.

Davis netted 14 points in the victory for the Saints as he was in foul trouble early in the first half. The junior center opened the game connecting on a pair of three-pointers in the opening four minutes of the contest.

Meister finished with 10 points for Suffolk to go along with seven rebounds.

Suffolk held a slight edge on the glass at 49-45.

Both teams will be back in GNAC action on Thursday evening.

Emannuel will host Lasell College at 7:00pm, while Suffolk travels to Rivier for a 7:00pm tip-off.