BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball did what only seven teams did before, defeat its Boston Commons neighbor Emerson, as the Rams held off a Lions comeback to take a 103-91 decision Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 103 | Emerson 91
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-1) | Emerson (2-2) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a one-point game five minutes and did fluctuate far from that over the next five as Suffolk clung to the 19-18 edge. The lead would flip in the Lions favor, 22-21, but John Gates evened the score with a freebie. That free throw sparked 10-0 Suffolk stretch that gave the blue-and-gold a 30-22 edge with 7:37 left before half time.  

A response from Emerson came in the form of an 8-2 run of its own to make it a one possession game, 32-30, with just under five minutes left on the clock in the first half. It was all Rams from there as they kept the Lions scoreless for the final 4:56, which allowed Suffolk to build a 20-point cushion. The stretch that closed the first 20 minutes featured seven points from Nate Hale and back-to-back treys from Gates. 

Emerson emerged out of locker room on a 12-3 rally to cut the distance nearly in half. Suffolk maintained that margin and regained a 17-point gap, 66-49, seven minutes into the second stanza after Gates followed up a Cole LeVangie layup with his third triple of the night.  

Suffolk managed to maintain the double-digit advantage over the next five minutes, however, the Lions clawed back. Emerson outscored the Rams 9-3 to pull within nine, 78-69, with 7:26 left in regulation.  

The teams would trade hoops from there and with just over two minutes remaining the Lions made it a seven-point game, 91-84.  

From there the visitors rolled the dice by sending Suffolk to the free throw line. The Rams took care of business at the charity stripe as four players in a blue-and-gold jersey contributed to the 12-for-12 effort at the line over the final two minutes to preserve the victory.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Hale hit a game-high 32 points behind a 4-for-7 showing from 3-point land and perfect 4-for-4 showing at the free throw line. He added here rebounds, three steals and one steal. 
• Gates registered 18 points on a 5-for-8 performance from the floor, which including a 3-for-4 effort from behind-the-arc and 5-for-6 effort at the charity stripe. Defensively he chipped in four caroms and two takeaways. 
• Keenan Robertson was on the verge of a double-double with a 12-point, nine-rebound effort to go along with four dimes and one swat. 
• William Rowe contributed on both ends of the hardwood as well with 12 points and five boards.
• Suffolk shot 55.7 percent (34-61) and 59.1 percent (13-22) from downtown and was nearly perfect at the line shooting for 22-for-23. 
• The Rams out rebounded the Lions, 39-35, but Emerson capitalized on its second chances, scoring 17 points on put backs.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Emerson for the first time since Jan. 4, 2014 and ninth time overall. 
• The Rams move to 5-14 when hosting the Lions on their home court. 
• The blue-and-gold snapped a six-game skid against Emerson. 
• Suffolk put in 100 points against Emerson for the first time. 
• The win over Emerson is the first with Jeff Juron on the bench. 
• Suffolk scored 100 points for the first time since a 105-53 victory over Curry March 13, 2021. 
• The Rams hit the 100-point mark for the four time under Juron's guidance. 
• Gates notched a career-high in points (18) and free throws made (5). 
• Hale matched a personal-best 12 field goals made. 
• Kyle Phillips recorded a personal-high in field goals made (3) and points (7) and hit his first collegiate 3-pointer. 
• Robertson grabbed a career-best nine rebounds.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk will take seven days off before venturing to Biddeford, Maine to lift the lid on its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) era at the University of New England. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.