Emory Men's Basketball Tops LaGrange -- Runs Record To 4-0

Box

Emory University sophomore Alex Greven and junior Alex Gulotta combined for 41 points in helping the Eagles to an 81-67 win over LaGrange College Saturday afternoon at the Woodruff PE Center.  The win boosted Emory’s record to 4-0 while the Panthers slumped to 0-5.

Greven connected on nine-of-13 from the floor, including three-of-five from beyond the arc, en route to his third double-figure scoring game of the campaign and second of 20 or more points.  Gulotta continued his torrid shooting, knocking down six-of-seven opportunities from three-point range, along with a pair of free throws, in notching his third consecutive outing of 20-plus points.  Over his last three contests, Gulotta is averaging 23.0 points and connecting at a blistering 72.4 percent clip from three-point range, hitting 21-of-29 attempts

Both teams shot the ball well from the floor with Emory successful on 49.1 percent of its field goal attempts (28-of-57) and LaGrange registering a 49.0 percent mark (24-of-49). The Eagles finished with a 33-22 edge on the glass with senior Julien Williams and sophomore Michel Friedberg tying for team honors with five boards apiece.  Emory enjoyed a decided edge in three-point shooting, draining 11-of-23 from distance while LaGrange hit five-of-12.

Emory held a 10-5 lead early in the game before five different players scored in a 13-4 run, that upped its lead to 23-9 with 10:26 left in the first half. However, the visitors fought back and used a subsequent 8-0 spurt to trim Emory’s lead to six points.  The Panthers eventually drew to within 34-32 with 5:23 left in the stanza following a Nic Whitfield bucket, but the Eagles regrouped to rattle off nine unanswered points, five by Greven, to claim an 11-point margin late in the half in taking an eventual 43-34 bulge into the intermission. Greven and Gulotta led the team’s scoring effort during the opening 20 minutes of play with 11 and nine points, respectively. 

LaGrange stayed within range and trailed by eight points, 65-57, with 10:20 left  before a decisive 14-3 Emory outburst, with Greven scoring five points and Gulotta adding a key trey, increased its advantage to 79-60 with 5:24 on the clock.

Junior guard Austin Claunch rounded out Emory’s double-digit scorers with 12 points and also added seven assists and four steals.

LaGrange’s Nic Whitfield and Stephen Spivey tied for team scoring honors with 14 points apiece.

Emory returns to action on Sunday (Nov. 28) when it takes on Maryville College at 4:00 p.m.  LaGrange and Oglethorpe will meet at 2:00 p.m.