Late Game Run Leads to Men's Basketball Win on Sophomore Day

Late Game Run Leads to Men's Basketball Win on Sophomore Day
February 13, 2022
Box Score

Using a 12-4 run in the game's final six minutes, the Emory Oxford men's basketball team escaped with a 64-63 victory over the Grizzlies of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). The Eagles end the regular season with three straight wins and improve to 13-11. 

Sophomore Nick Nist led the Eagles with 24 points while shooting a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. He and classmate Kabir Bergin both had a team-high seven rebounds. Fellow sophomore Dante Conley-Leonardi was the only other player in double figures for Emory Oxford with 11 points.

In the first half, the game was back-and-forth, with neither team gaining a commanding lead. However, at the 12:58 mark, the Grizzlies used a 13-4 run to gain their biggest lead (11) of the game. The Eagles would fight back and at the half, they held a 33-30 lead. In the ensuing half, Emory Oxford opened with a 13-4 run to gain a 46-34 advantage, their largest of the game. The Grizzlies would answer back and with 9:52 left, they would hold a three-point lead. 

With the score at 59-52 in favor of GGC, the Eagles would make their final run. Conley-Leonardi started things off with a basket plus a foul and after making the free-throw, the lead was down to four. Both teams then traded baskets bringing the score 61-57. Two possessions later, an offensive rebound by first-year Sean Osei led to a Nist layup. Osei would finish with a team-high four assists. 

With the score at 61-59, the Grizzlies would score their final basket of the game at the 2:35 mark. A couple of possessions later, Osei would get a steal that led to a wide-open layup to bring them back within two. After a couple of defensive stops, an offensive rebound by Bergin would lead to two free throws. He would go 1-for-2, bringing the score to 63-62. With 31 seconds left, the Eagles got another stop, leading to a Nist layup on a fastbreak, which proved to be the game-winning basket. The Grizzlies would not be able to answer in the final possession and would lose 64-63. 

During halftime, the Eagles honored their nine sophomores along with the managers and cheerleaders. 

Up next, the Eagles will take on the Cougars of Central Carolina. This will be the Regional semi-finals held at Central Carolina on Thursday (Feb. 17th) at 7:00 PM.