ANDERSON, SC – The Emmanuel Men's Basketball team opened their season today against the Newberry College Wolves in a Conference Crossover tournament hosted at Anderson University. The Lions took an early lead, taking a 36-27 lead into the half but a second half surge for the Wolves forced OT. The two teams traded points through two overtime periods with the Wolves winning on a buzzer beater, 100-98. 

The Lions jumped out to a 7-1 lead with buckets by Sam Thacker and Ezra McKee. The Wolves responded to cut the Lions lead to 12-10 with 13:28 to play in the first but the Lions would respond with a 10-0 scoring run to take a 22-10 lead on key plays by Massimo Morretti and Devin Story. The Wolves cut the Lions lead to single digits late in the half, but a fastbreak layup by Brady Peery put the Lions back up by 12 with 4:59 to play, 30-18. The Lions would lead by as much as 13 points in the half, but the Wolves cut the lead to 9 to give the Lions a 36-27 lead heading into the break. 

The Lions picked up right where they left off to start off the 2^nd half, with three-pointers by Story and Thacker to push the Lions lead to 14, 51-37. The Wolves responded well, slowly chipping away at the Lions lead until Emmanuel led by just one point, 58-57 with 6:07 to play. The teams traded points the rest of the way, with the Wolves taking their first lead of the game with 1:55 to play, 71-70. With the Wolves leading 73-71, two made free throws by Devin Story tied the game to end regulation knotted at 73-73 to force overtime.

The Lions opened up overtime with a layup by Peery and free throws by Isaac Jones to retake the lead, 77-75. Made free throws by Thacker pushed the Lions lead to 81-77 with 1:50 to play in overtime, but the Wolves responded well. The Wolves retook the lead on a three-pointer to go up 82-81 and the teams' traded points and the lead the rest of the way, ending the first overtime period tied at 85-85. 

The second overtime period saw the Wolves take the lead, 89-87 but the Lions responded well with a three by Andrija Vujacic to make it 90-89, Lions. There were several ties and lead changes throughout overtime. Devin Story tied the game up at the line 98-98 with 17 seconds to play, but a buzzer beater tip-in by the Wolves gave Newberry the 100-98 win. 

Five Lions ended the night in double figure scoring, with Devin Story leading the way with a career high 32 points and 9 rebounds. Sam Thacker added 20 points, with Ezra McKee picking up a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds. Andrija Vujacic and Brady Peery added 10 points apiece.  Story and Isaac Jones led the team in assists with four a piece, while Ezra McKee, Andrija Vujacic, and Isaac Jones picked up a block. 

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow at 2PM as they face host, Anderson University in the Conference Crossover Tournament.