2008 Woodie Awards
Lions continue march toward postseason play
Men find themselves right in the thick of things as season wraps up
Emily Wright
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Sports
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There was no place like the Lions' second home as the Emerson's men's basketball team took on the Johnson & Wales Wildcats at Pine Manor last weekend.
The flood damage to Piano Row inconvenienced the team, but it was nothing that could stop the 13-7 (8-3 GNAC) Lions from rising to the top, clinching a 75-72 victory with seconds to spare at what used to be the Emerson home court.
The Wildcats opened with intensity, but the Lions came back with a vengeance, gaining the lead midway through the first half and holding on until the final eight minutes.
Senior guard Alfredo Tovar got Emerson off to a quick start, hitting a signature three-point shot from the left corner a little over two minutes into the game.
Just 40 seconds later, Tovar capitalized on Wildcat turnover, converting it to two more points.
"Tovar's clutch three-point shooting is a constant threat at any point of the game, and [Joe] Boylan's defensive ability is an unavoidable weapon," said Team Manager Rhys Thieriot. "Coach Smith is always drilling on the importance of veteran leadership, and I feel these men have done a more impressive job of expressing that within these recent games."
A literal above-the-rim shot came from Tovar with 12 minutes to go in the half, bouncing off the top of the backboard and slipping into the basket, adding three points to the Lions' lead.
JWU's Tit Hudarin answered Tovar's movie-like play, scoring a three-point shot of his own, but the Lions senior nailed another only 45 seconds later, leaving no room for a Wildcats surge.
The Lions played for the final 13 minutes of the first half without one of their co-captains, junior Will Dawkins, who was benched after committing two fouls within 30 seconds of each other.
Still, the Lions had a nine-point lead at halftime (36-27) on 67 percent field-goal shooting and went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Tovar and Dawkins hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the second half, but the Wildcats' offense began to creep up on the Lions.
The flood damage to Piano Row inconvenienced the team, but it was nothing that could stop the 13-7 (8-3 GNAC) Lions from rising to the top, clinching a 75-72 victory with seconds to spare at what used to be the Emerson home court.
The Wildcats opened with intensity, but the Lions came back with a vengeance, gaining the lead midway through the first half and holding on until the final eight minutes.
Senior guard Alfredo Tovar got Emerson off to a quick start, hitting a signature three-point shot from the left corner a little over two minutes into the game.
Just 40 seconds later, Tovar capitalized on Wildcat turnover, converting it to two more points.
"Tovar's clutch three-point shooting is a constant threat at any point of the game, and [Joe] Boylan's defensive ability is an unavoidable weapon," said Team Manager Rhys Thieriot. "Coach Smith is always drilling on the importance of veteran leadership, and I feel these men have done a more impressive job of expressing that within these recent games."
A literal above-the-rim shot came from Tovar with 12 minutes to go in the half, bouncing off the top of the backboard and slipping into the basket, adding three points to the Lions' lead.
JWU's Tit Hudarin answered Tovar's movie-like play, scoring a three-point shot of his own, but the Lions senior nailed another only 45 seconds later, leaving no room for a Wildcats surge.
The Lions played for the final 13 minutes of the first half without one of their co-captains, junior Will Dawkins, who was benched after committing two fouls within 30 seconds of each other.
Still, the Lions had a nine-point lead at halftime (36-27) on 67 percent field-goal shooting and went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Tovar and Dawkins hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the second half, but the Wildcats' offense began to creep up on the Lions.
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