BOSTON, Mass. – Emerson College junior forward Austin Pickey (Miami, Fla.) posted a double-double of ten points and 18 rebounds as the Lions powered past Lesley University 67-41 in non-conference action tonight at Brown-Plofker Gymnasium. The win for the Lions avenges a 70-56 loss to the Lynx in Cambridge during the 2013-14 season as the hosts improved to 3-4 on the young season. The Lynx fall to 0-5 on the year with the loss.
Lesley senior guard Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.) led the Lynx attack as he finished the night with nine points, three assists, and three rebounds. Sophomore guard Terrell Toney (Lakewood, Wash.) posted eight points to go with a team-best four assists while senior forward Nikalus Oliver (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) came off the bench for nine points and a team-high seven boards.
Emerson junior Michael Thorpe (Newton, Mass.) led the Lions in scoring with 13 points while junior Brian Hurley (South Boston, Mass.) chipped in with seven points and 11 boards. Freshman John Geary (Duxbury, Mass.) knocked down a pair of triples on his way to ten points in a reserve role for the hosts, who saw 11 different players register points on the night.
The Lynx won the turnover battle, forcing 11 Lion miscues while committing only nine of their own, but Emerson dominated the effort on the glass as they out-rebounded their guests by a 56-20 margin. Emerson's 23 offensive rebounds led to 19 second chance points.
The Lions opened up an 11-4 lead in the early-goings of the first half, but the Lynx stormed back with a 12-0 run. Toney sparked the run with a layup before back-to-back buckets by senior Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) and Rosa quickly brought the Lynx within one. Oliver capped the burst with a pair of triples as the Lynx took a 16-11 edge with 10:49 to go in the opening half.
Emerson would regain their lead with a 9-1 spurt powered by seven points by Geary, but it would not last long as the Lynx answered with a made jumper by junior Casey Blanchard (Bernardston, Mass.) and a trey by classmate Corbin Polec (Okemos, Mich.) to claim a 24-20 advantage with 5:16 on the clock.
With the score knotted at 26-26, the hosts would close out the first stanza on a 7-0 run as the Lions took a 33-26 lead into the locker room.
Emerson would extend their lead as they opened up second half play with a 10-1 burst and they would not trail again in the game as they snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Lynx will open up New England Collegiate Conference play on Thursday when they head to Brookline, Mass. For a battle with the Nighthawks of Newbury College at 7:00p. The Lions will return to action on Saturday when they head to Amherst College. Tip-off is set for 2:00p.