Milestone Game For Everson in Saints' 97-87 Win Over Suffolk

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior guard Xavier Everson (Rochester, N.Y.) scored his 1,000^th career point and grabbed his 500^th career rebound in Emmanuel College's 97-87 win over Suffolk University on Saturday afternoon.  With the win, the Saints handed Suffolk University (4-5, 2-1) their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss of the season.  Emmanuel improved to 2-8 overall and 2-1 in the league.

This was the first game of the second semester for both teams.  The Rams had been off for a month, with their last contest played back in early December.  The Saints entered today's game looking to rebound from their two losses during Emmanuel's winter break trip in Florida. 

Everson gave the Saints an early, 7-5, lead, when he drilled a deep three from the right wing. Everson drove the lane for consecutive hoops on Emmanuel's next two possessions, giving the hosts an 11-7 lead at the 15-minute mark.  The captain, who opened the game just 16 points shy of 1,000 for his career, was quick to take charge, scoring 9 points in the first five minutes of play.

The Saints went on a 13-4 run, capped by an and-one from Brandon Jones (Winsor, Conn.), as Emmanuel led, 20-9 with twelve minutes to play in the half.  Suffolk's senior guard Chris Torres (Brockton, Mass.), who entered the game 18 points away from 1,000, went end to end for the Rams and cut the visitors' deficit to nine at 22-13.  Rookie guard Caleb Unni (Winchester, Mass.) dropped a pair of free throws and Torres hit a runner for Suffolk to bring the spread to 26-20 at the ten-minute mark.

The Saints then used consecutive hoops by Rashad Dixon (Brockton, Mass.) and Josh Welles (Philadelphia, Pa.) to stretch their lead back into double-figures at 30-20.  Emmanuel was able to build a 12-2 run after two free throws by D.J. Fazio (Methuen, Mass.) and forced a Rams' timeout with 5:35 on the clock.  The run continued for the Saints and with Emmanuel going up 46-28 after a free throw by Theo Robinson(Springfield, Mass.) at 2:25.

A pair of freebies by Jones ended the half for the Saints and Emmanuel took their largest lead of the game into the locker room at halftime, up 51-30.  Welles and Robinson led all scorers at the break with 12 points apiece.  Torres led Suffolk with 9 first-half points.

The Saints continued to hold the momentum in the second half.  After another and-one by Jones, followed by a baseline jumper, the host found themselves up 64-40 with fifteen minutes left to play.  Suffolk's Aury Leyva (Miami, Fla.) knocked down a mid-range jumper to bring the Rams' deficit under twenty, but Emmanuel's Michael Connor Morgan (Glocester, R.I.) drained a three-ball and quickly put the Saints back up 72-51 with eleven and a half remaining. Morgan dialed in again from long-range and Emmanuel led, 75-55.

Everson drove baseline with 9:56 to go in the game and laid the ball in for his 1,000^th career point.  Just three minutes later, Everson hauled in his seventh rebound of the day and the 500^thboard of his collegiate career.  During an Emmanuel full timeout, Everson was honored for reaching these two milestones.  He is now one of just five players in Emmanuel program history to eclipse 1,000 points AND 500 rebounds.

On the next possession, Suffolk's Torres hit a free throw for his 1,000^th career point.  He was also honored for reaching this highly coveted milestone.

Emmanuel held onto its solid double-figure lead throughout and pulled out the 97-87 win.  With their 97 points, the Saints put together their highest scoring game of the year, twenty points over their previous high score of 77 points.

Emmanuel had a balanced scoring attack with all five starters in double-figures. The Saints were led by a double-double effort from Robinson, who hit for 20 points on 8 for 11 shooting, to go along with his game-high 11 rebounds.  Everson, Welles and Jones finished with 16 points apiece.  Morgan netted 12, including hitting three from behind the arc.  Fazio dished out a game-high 6 assists and collected 4 steals for the Saints.

Eleven different players were on the scoreboard for Emmanuel, including Shane Kellar (Chalfont, Pa.) and Jordan Becker (Delray Beach, Calif.), who netted their first collegiate baskets. Collectively, the Saints shot 52.3% (34-65) from the floor.

Torres finished with a game-high 25 points to lead the Rams.  Sophomore Matt Powers (Westwood, Mass.) added 15 points, while Leyva finished with 13.  Matt Pepdjonovic led Suffolk on the glass with 10 rebounds.

Emmanuel will play again on Tuesday night, when the Saints travel to Newton, Mass. for a 7:00 PM battle with the Mustangs of Mount Ida College.  Suffolk is also back in action on Tuesday, when they host Johnson & Wales University in an 8:00 PM start.

*Release courtesy of Emmanuel College Sports Information Dept.