BOSTON – Five different Rams poured in double figures to help Suffolk men's basketball build a 20-point cushion that paid off down the stretch en route to an 87-73 victory over Emerson Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.  

The Boston Commons bragging rights win is the 10th-ever over the Lions in the all-time series, which dates back to 1986.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 87 | Emerson 73
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-1) | Emerson (2-3) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk built a 13-4 lead in the first five minutes that grew to 23-16 cushion 10 minutes and the largest lead of the night, 38-18, came with just under five minutes to play before halftime.  

The Lions attempted managed to chip the margin just under 20, 45-28, when the teams headed to the locker rooms.  

Back-and-forth action got the second half started before Emerson made things interesting. Behind a 12-2 run the Lions cut the gap down to seven with 11:11 on the clock in the second half. 

That distance shortened even further, this time to five, 62-57, at the 8:09 mark.  

Suffolk poured in nine unanswered to restore a comfortable cushion, 76-59, with 2:41 left in regulation.

The game would be determined at the free throw line from there with both teams in double bonus and Suffolk sealed the deal with its free throw shooting finesse. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Evan Cook contributed a game-high 20 points on a 5-for-8 showing from the field and a 9-for-10 effort from the charity stripe. He added four caroms, three steals and one assist. 
• Keenan Robertson, who shot 5-for-6 from the field, scored 15 points. He pulled down six caroms to go along with two steals, two handouts and one swat.
• Jake Gomez registered 14 points on a 4-for-5 effort from the floor and a 6-for-6 performance from the line. The junior's stat line featured five helpers, three boards and one steal. 
• Owen Walters supplied 12 points on a 6-for-8 effort from the field off the bench. 
• Danny Yardemian notched 11 points, four caroms, three steals and a pair of dimes. 
• Emerson outrebounded Suffolk, 33-31. 
• Suffolk shot 55.8 percent (29-52) as a team.
• From downtown, the Rams connected on just 35.7 percent of their attempts. 
• At the line, the blue-and-gold put tighter an 85.7 percent effort. 
• Suffolk converted the Lions' 17 turnovers into 25 points. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated Emerson for just the 10th time in program history, first since a 103-91 triumph Nov. 23, 2021. 
• The Rams are now 10-32 all-time against Emerson. 
• Under Jeff Juron, the blue-and-gold is now 2-6 against the Lions. 
• At Suffolk, the Rams hold a 6-15 record against Emerson. 
• The 14-point margin of victory versus the Lions is the largest for Suffolk since it bested Emerson by an identical margin, 82-68, Feb. 5, 2004. 
• Gomez logged a personal-best in free throws made (6) and assists (5). 
• Yardemian has scored double digits in every game (3) he has played at Suffolk. 
• Both Cook and Yardemian had a career-high three steals. 
• Nick Verdile had a personal-best in points (3) and matched a career-high in field goals made (1) and free throws made (1).
• Walters has scored double figures in back-to-back games. 
• Cem Uner matched a personal-best in points (2) and field goals made (1). 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk takes the next week to prep for its CCC debut, a Wednesday, Nov. 29 matchup at Gordon at 7:30 p.m.